Pilot killed as small plane crashes into Florida home, but his trainee and family on the ground miraculously survive

A pilot was killed when a small plane crashed into a Florida home on Saturday, but his trainee and a family of six somehow survived.

The twin-engine aircraft crashed into a home shortly after taking off from a nearby airport, according to local police.

Pilot James Wagner, 64, was killed, but trainee Timothy Sheehy and the six family members who were inside and outside the residence survived.

"This was a day of miracles", the sheriff said during a press conference. "Well, James Wagner's family wouldn't think so because he died in the crash. But it was a day of miracles because Timothy Sheehy, the trainee pilot, actually walked out of the crash, if you can believe that. Walked out of the crash and was wandering around when Winter Haven firefighters arrived."

Carmele Ngalamulume, 17, survived despite the fact that the plane crashed into her room. She was temporarily pinned and trapped in the bedroom, and her brother could not reach her. Their mother was in the shower, according to Judd, and three children were playing outside when the plane crashed into the home.

Sheehy and Ngalamulume were hospitalised but only suffered minor injuries, according to Judd. No one else was hurt.

"It was a blessing today that we didn't have an entire family wiped out," the sheriff said.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and Judd said that the NTSB and FAA will conduct a thorough investigation.