(Photo: KHOU 11 News)
The pilot of a glider plane is in the hospital after he crashed in a field in Waller County Sunday afternoon. KHOU
Jeremy Rogalski, KHOU 11 News 10:50 p.m. CDT August 23, 2015
WALLER COUNTY, Texas -
The pilot of a glider plane is in the hospital after he crashed in a field in Waller County Sunday afternoon.
Thomas Ray Hazel, 67, crashed near Laneview Road and FM 1488 just after 1:30 pm. according to a spokesman with the Department of Public Safety.
A power repair crew on the scene told KHOU 11 News the pilot clipped some power lines before crashing and coming to a rest in a grassy field.
A Life Flight helicopter airlifted Hazel to Memorial Hermann Hospital downtown. So far there's no word on his condition.
DPS said Hazel was a member of the Soaring Club of Houston, a gliders club based in Waller County just a few miles from the crash scene.
An unidentified man at the Soaring Club described Hazel as an experienced pilot, but said he had no information on what went wrong.DPS had no official cause either and said the FAA will be conducting an investigation
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Aircraft Description
| N-Number | N878S | ||
| Serial Number | 20268 | Status | Valid |
| Manufacturer Name | SCHLEICHER | Certificate Issue Date | 07/13/2012 |
| Model | ASW-20 | Expiration Date | 07/31/2018 |
| Type Aircraft | Glider | Type Engine | None |
| Pending Number Change | Dealer | ||
| Date Change Authorized | Mode S Code (base 8 / octal) | 53012636 | |
| MFR Year | 1979 | Mode S Code (base 16 / hex) | AC159E |
| Type Registration | Individual | Fractional Owner | No |
Airworthiness
Registered Owner
| Engine Manufacturer | NONE | A/W Date | 12/08/1980 |
| Engine Model | NONE | Classification | Experimental |
| Category | |||
| Name | HAZEL THOMAS R | ||
| Street | 803 LAMONTE LN | ||
| City | HOUSTON | State | TX |
| County | HARRIS COUNTY | Zip Code | 77018-4436 |
| Country | US | ||
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Date: 23-AUG-2015
Time: 13:30+
Type: Schleicher ASW-20
Owner/operator: Private
Registration: N878S
C/n / msn: 20268
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Substantial
Location: Waller County NE of Hempstead, TX -
United States of America Phase: Landing
Nature: Unknown
Departure airport: Hempstead Gliderport (35TS)
Destination airport: Hempstead Gliderport (35TS)
Narrative:
The aircraft clipped powerlines and impacted open field terrain during an apparent force landing northeast of Hempstead, Texas. The glider sustained substantial damage and the sole pilot onboard received serious injuries.
Sources:
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=178956
http://www.click2houston.com/news/one-person-hurt-after-plane-crash-in-waller-county/34872490
http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/2015/08/23/pilot-hospitalized-after-glider-plane-crashes-in-waller-county/32247735/
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=878S