Joel Martinez
Texas State Troppers invesigate a small plane that crashed in the brush south of the McAllen Miller International Airport August 18, 2015 in McAllen. photo by joel martinez/jmartinez@themonitor.com
Posted: Monday, August 17, 2015
KRISTIAN HERNANDEZ | STAFF WRITER
Posted on Aug 17, 2015
by Kristian Hernandez
McALLEN, TEXAS
Two people are dead following a small plane crash just south of the McAllen Miller International Airport, emergency officials said Monday night.
The privately owned single-engine aircraft carrying a student and an instructor crashed under unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from McAllen Miller International Airport, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
The aircraft, a Zenair CH 2000 trainer, went down just south of Runway 13 shortly after 6:50 p.m., according to the statement. The crash happened near a canal off of South 10th Street, just south of the airport, said McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez while at the scene.
“We have some witnesses that we’ve identified in the area that actually saw the aircraft,” Rodriguez said. “They report the aircraft stalling and tilting over south of the airport and ultimately crashing.”
After the crash the plane ignited with the pilot and co-pilot still inside. McAllen Fire Department put out the burning aircraft and quickly extinguished a small brush fire that sparked in the surrounding area, Rodriguez said.
The aircraft was registered to a Dan McCauley from Helotes, Texas, in Bexar County according to FAA records, but the victims had not been identified at the time of this report. FAA inspectors were on their way to the accident site Monday night and The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified, Rodriguez said.
Air traffic continued without interruption at the airport Monday, according to airport officials.
Date: 17-AUG-2015
Time: 18:45
Type: Zenair CH 2000
Owner/operator: Private
Registration: N26ZA
C/n / msn: 29-0026
Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Near McAllen Miller International Airport (KMFE), McAllen, TX -
United States of America Phase: Take off
Nature: Training
Departure airport: McAllen Miller Intl (KMFE)
Destination airport:
Narrative:
The aircraft experienced a stall/spin shortly after takeoff from McAllen Miller International Airport (KMFE), McAllen, Texas, and impacted terrain south of the departure end of runway 13. The airplane was partially consumed by the post-impact fire and the two pilots onboard received fatal injuries.
Sources:
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=178774
http://m.krgv.com/news/breaking-news-pd-two-confirmed-dead-in-plane-crash/34771108
http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1243749#.VdK3j8RHaK0
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/two-dead-following-small-plane-crash-near-airport-officials-said/article_e69d4842-4542-11e5-8800-5f161815685e.html
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=26ZA
http://www.zenair.com/ch-2000-vla-index.html
Aircraft Manufacturer & Model: ZENAIR LTD CH 2000
Type: Fixed Wing Single Engine
Information Updated 08/12/2015
Aircraft Description
| N-Number | N26ZA | ||
| Serial Number | 20-0026 | Status | Valid |
| Manufacturer Name | ZENAIR LTD | Certificate Issue Date | 11/28/2012 |
| Model | CH 2000 | Expiration Date | 11/30/2015 |
| Type Aircraft | Fixed Wing Single Engine | Type Engine | Reciprocating |
| Pending Number Change | Dealer | ||
| Date Change Authorized | Mode S Code (base 8 / octal) | 50477344 | |
| MFR Year | Mode S Code (base 16 / hex) | A27EE4 | |
| Type Registration | Individual | Fractional Owner | No |
Airworthiness
| Engine Manufacturer | LYCOMING | A/W Date | 02/19/1997 |
| Engine Model | 0-235 SERIES | Classification | Standard |
| Category | Utility | ||
Registered Owner
Other Owner Names
None| Name | MCCAULEY DAN W | ||
| Street | 20235 BLUEHILL PASS | ||
| City | HELOTES | State | TX |
| County | BEXAR COUNTY | Zip Code | 78023-3311 |
| Country | US | ||