TAMPA, Fla. — The healthcare community is mourning the death of Dawn Stone, 53, an AdventHealth nurse practitioner who was killed Thursday, September 3, 2026, when a small plane crashed in Hillsborough County.
Stone was the passenger aboard the aircraft, while the pilot, Dr. David Siambanes, 59, was also killed. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the identities of both victims after the aircraft crashed in a wooded area near U.S. Highway 301 and Maislin Drive.
Stone’s death has brought grief to her family, friends, colleagues and the many patients and healthcare professionals who knew her through her work.
Dawn Stone Killed in Hillsborough County Plane Crash
The fatal crash occurred Thursday morning after authorities received a 911 call at approximately 8:17 a.m. reporting that an aircraft had gone down near U.S. 301 and Maislin Drive.
Deputies arrived to find the plane on fire in a wooded area. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews responded and extinguished the flames.
Two people were found inside the aircraft. Authorities later identified the pilot as David Siambanes and the passenger as Dawn Stone, both of whom died in the crash. Next of kin was notified.
The aircraft was a Lancair Evolution, according to information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities. It had taken off from the nearby Tampa Executive Airport.
AdventHealth Mourns Dawn Stone
Dawn Stone was a nurse practitioner with AdventHealth, where she specialized in bone health and orthopedic care.
Her professional biography describes her as a board-certified nurse practitioner who was drawn to nursing through an interest in science, problem-solving and compassionate care. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida and had more than a decade of experience in orthopedics.
Following her death, AdventHealth issued a statement expressing grief over the loss of a valued member of its healthcare family.
The organization said Stone had dedicated herself to caring for others and that her death was deeply felt by the colleagues and care teams who worked alongside her.
For the people who knew Stone professionally, that commitment to patient care is likely to remain an important part of how she is remembered.
A Career Built Around Caring for Others
Healthcare professionals often meet people during some of the most vulnerable periods of their lives.
Stone’s career placed her in a position to help patients navigate health concerns while providing knowledge, compassion and support.
Her AdventHealth biography notes that her work focused on bone health for adults and that her background in orthopedics helped her care for patients with musculoskeletal needs.
Her professional interests were accompanied by a broader commitment to helping people.
That combination of medical knowledge and compassionate care has become central to the tributes surrounding her death.
Remembering Dawn Stone Beyond the Crash
Although the plane crash brought sudden attention to Stone’s death, her life was defined by far more than the circumstances of the tragedy.
For colleagues, she was a healthcare professional who devoted years to caring for patients.
For family and friends, she was a loved one whose life extended well beyond her career.
Her professional biography also described interests that included cooking, traveling, working out and spending time outdoors, particularly activities such as biking, hiking and fishing.
Those details offer a glimpse into the person behind the professional title.
The memories held by those closest to Stone will include the everyday experiences, relationships and moments that cannot be captured in an accident report.
Tampa Healthcare Community Loses Two Medical Professionals
Stone and Siambanes were both members of the Tampa Bay healthcare community.
Siambanes was identified as an osteopathic physician who specialized in treating children with spinal disorders and was director of the scoliosis center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.
Their deaths have therefore affected not only their respective families but also colleagues, patients and medical communities throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Friends and former patients have been sharing memories of Siambanes, while Stone’s AdventHealth colleagues are mourning the loss of a nurse practitioner who dedicated herself to patient care.
Investigation Into the Plane Crash
The circumstances that caused the aircraft to crash have not yet been determined.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are handling the investigation.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, the pilot, the operating environment and other evidence as they work to determine what happened.
Authorities have not publicly attributed the crash to a particular mechanical problem, weather condition, pilot action or other factor.
Until the investigation produces verified findings, speculation about the cause should be avoided.
Dawn Stone Cause of Death
Dawn Stone died in the Hillsborough County plane crash, according to authorities.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that Stone and Siambanes were the two people aboard the aircraft and that both died in the incident.
Additional medical details concerning Stone’s injuries have not been publicly released.
The official investigation remains focused on determining why the aircraft crashed.
A Life of Compassion and Service
Stone’s work in healthcare provides an important part of her legacy.
Her AdventHealth biography describes a professional who was motivated by science, problem-solving and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Those qualities take on particular meaning following her death.
Patients and colleagues often remember healthcare professionals not simply for their credentials, but for the way they treated people and the care they provided during difficult circumstances.
AdventHealth’s statement reflects that sense of loss, describing Stone as a valued and deeply cared-for member of its organization.
Family, Friends and Colleagues Mourn
Stone’s death has left her loved ones facing the painful reality of an unexpected loss.
Her colleagues are also mourning someone they knew through years of professional work and patient care.
For those who worked alongside her, ordinary workplace memories may now become particularly meaningful: conversations, shared responsibilities, interactions with patients and the many small moments that make up a career in healthcare.
For her family and close friends, those memories will extend far beyond the workplace.
Together, they form a picture of a woman whose life involved both professional service and personal relationships.
Funeral and Memorial Arrangements
Information regarding Dawn Stone’s funeral, visitation or memorial services has not been included in the publicly available information reviewed for this article.
Additional arrangements may be announced by her family or authorized representatives.
Those wishing to pay their respects should rely on official family or funeral-home announcements for confirmed details.
During this period, allowing Stone’s loved ones privacy as they make arrangements and grieve remains important.
Dawn Stone’s Legacy
Dawn Stone’s legacy will be closely connected to the people she cared for throughout her career.
As an AdventHealth nurse practitioner specializing in bone health, she spent her professional life helping patients address medical concerns and improve their wellbeing.
Her colleagues will remember her contribution to the healthcare teams with which she worked, while patients and former patients may remember the care and compassion she provided.
Her interests outside medicine—including cooking, travel, exercise and outdoor activities—also reveal a fuller picture of the person beyond her professional role.
Final Tribute to Dawn Stone
The death of Dawn Stone, 53, has brought heartbreak to her family, friends, colleagues and the wider Tampa Bay healthcare community.
She was one of two people killed when a small plane crashed in Hillsborough County on September 3, 2026. Authorities identified her as the passenger aboard the aircraft, while Dr. David Siambanes was identified as the pilot.
Stone’s professional life was devoted to healthcare. As an AdventHealth nurse practitioner, she specialized in bone health and brought years of orthopedic experience to her work with patients.
Her death has left a void among the colleagues and care teams who worked alongside her, while her family and friends are left to remember the life she shared with them.
The circumstances of the plane crash remain under investigation by the NTSB and FAA, and no cause has yet been established publicly.
For those who knew Dawn, however, her story is about more than the tragedy that ended her life. It is also about the patients she cared for, the colleagues she worked with, the people she loved and the many lives she touched through her years of service.
May Dawn Stone be remembered for her compassion, dedication and commitment to caring for others. May her family, friends, colleagues and everyone affected by her passing find strength and comfort in the memories she leaves behind.
This article is based on information released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, AdventHealth and Tampa Bay-area news organizations. Funeral arrangements and additional findings from the plane-crash investigation should be confirmed through official sources.