Four confirmed dead in small plane crash near West Houston Airport
Four people died after a small plane crashed near West Houston Airport on Friday afternoon. (KTRK)
By Jessica Willey
Friday, July 08, 2016 11:50PM
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A small plane crashed into a wooded field near West Houston Airport, killing four people. The aircraft -- a Piper-32 -- was completely destroyed.
The fiery crash was reported around 4:15pm. The wreckage was discovered amid some trees not far from the airport, right next to Sherri and George Turner's home.
"Snapped the pine tree, hit the ground and blew up. By the time I came out it was fully engulfed," said George Turner.
Turner grabbed a garden hose to put water on the fire and keep it from spreading.
According to the FAA, the plane had taken off from West Houston Airport a few minutes earlier. Investigators believe it suffered some kind of engine failure. Eyewitness Gustavo Trevino, who owns a business nearby, noticed the plane was having trouble just after take off.
"It made a sharp turn to the left," said Trevino. "When it hit the pine tree, the plane, everything disintegrated."
Trevino then rushed to help. He also used his cell phone to record video of the aftermath. His footage shows a fiery field; in the wreckage, up close, it's difficult to tell what's what.
"Everything was just on fire," Trevino added.
The names of the four victims have not been released. Neither has the plane's tail number. Several people who said they knew the victims gathered at the scene Friday evening hoping for information.
Multiple agencies responded earlier, including DPS, the Harris County Sheriff's Office and Westlake EMS. The NTSB and FAA are investigating.
====================================
Date:
| 08-JUL-2016 | |
| Time: | 16:20 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-32 |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | |
| C/n / msn: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | East of West Houston Airport (KIWS), Houston, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | West Houston (KIWS) |
The aircraft impacted wooded terrain shortly after takeoff from West Houston Airport (KIWS), Houston, Texas. The airplane was destroyed by the impact and post-impact fire. The four occupants onboard the aircraft received fatal injuries.
Sources:
http://www.chron.com/houston/article/Small-plane-crashes-in-northwest-Houston-8348742.php
http://www.khou.com/news/local/4-killed-in-plane-crash-near-west-houston-airport/267977688
http://www.click2houston.com/news/small-plane-crashes-catches-fire-in-west-harris-county
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_PA-32