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Hawker Fatal Crash In Texas
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2000flyer
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Update
Plane crashes near Beaumont; three dead
By ANGELA WEAVER and MIKE TOBIAS - Port Arthur News Staff Writers
BEAUMONT -- Erik Salna and his wife, Jane, said they expected a loud explosion when they watched a Hawker 700 twin-engine jet go down in a field off FM 105, but the crash was more a muffled "poof."
"It was like a leaf falling from a tree," Salna, a KBMT Channel 12 anchor, said recalling the surreal sight of the plane crash he and his wife witnessed from their Tolliver Road home Saturday evening.
"We were expecting a loud explosion," Salna continued. "It was more like a muffle, or a poof. There was no smoke, and there was no fire."
That was the consensus among other reported accounts of the tragic crash of a twin-engine jet in a field off Highway 105, just north of Major Drive in Beaumont that left three passengers dead. Salna and his wife were gardening when they heard the hum of a jet flying at what they said seemed a little lower than usual.
"The only reason we took interest was that is was low and loud," Salna said. "We followed it in the sky and watched the plane take its nose up a bit, then all of a sudden it went quiet, like the engine shut off. It just kind of stalled there and it sounded like the engine was trying to kick back on one last time before it just fell.
"We saw it till it went below the tree line and we heard the thud."
Star Flite Aviation President Jeff Ware said he was well acquainted with the three pilots who died when the jet owned by his charter service crashed near Sour Lake.
"They were doing their training at Beaumont Municipal," Ware said. "It was just basic pilot training."
He declined further comment on the pilots and also to release the identity of the three men pending notification of their families.
Beaumont Fire Department Capt. Keith Stewart said fire fighters were dispatched at 6:57 p.m. Saturday and discovered two fatalities at the scene. The crash site was then turned over to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Sheriff Mitch Woods said the crash occurred off FM 105 just outside the Beaumont city limits near Al Cook's Nursery, and later said there were, in fact, three passengers who died when the plane went down.
"It's a twin-engine jet and it looks like there were three passengers and they were all deceased," Woods said. "The DPS will be handling the investigation and securing the scene until NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and Federal Aviation Administration officials come tomorrow morning."
DPS officials were unable to be reached for comment.
Woods said that Hobby lost contact with the aircraft around 7 p.m. A local witness, he said, also reported seeing the plane go down about the same time. No homes were damaged and no injuries occurred on the ground.
Ware said it is common for pilots in training to land several times at different airports during their training. The Hawker 700, a mid-size twin-engine jet with room for 7-8 passengers and capable of flying at 400 knots, left William P. Hobby Airport in Houston Saturday afternoon and the pilots were expected at Beaumont Municipal. He said the men would have returned to Hobby after training.
Plane crashes near Beaumont; three dead
By ANGELA WEAVER and MIKE TOBIAS - Port Arthur News Staff Writers
BEAUMONT -- Erik Salna and his wife, Jane, said they expected a loud explosion when they watched a Hawker 700 twin-engine jet go down in a field off FM 105, but the crash was more a muffled "poof."
"It was like a leaf falling from a tree," Salna, a KBMT Channel 12 anchor, said recalling the surreal sight of the plane crash he and his wife witnessed from their Tolliver Road home Saturday evening.
"We were expecting a loud explosion," Salna continued. "It was more like a muffle, or a poof. There was no smoke, and there was no fire."
That was the consensus among other reported accounts of the tragic crash of a twin-engine jet in a field off Highway 105, just north of Major Drive in Beaumont that left three passengers dead. Salna and his wife were gardening when they heard the hum of a jet flying at what they said seemed a little lower than usual.
"The only reason we took interest was that is was low and loud," Salna said. "We followed it in the sky and watched the plane take its nose up a bit, then all of a sudden it went quiet, like the engine shut off. It just kind of stalled there and it sounded like the engine was trying to kick back on one last time before it just fell.
"We saw it till it went below the tree line and we heard the thud."
Star Flite Aviation President Jeff Ware said he was well acquainted with the three pilots who died when the jet owned by his charter service crashed near Sour Lake.
"They were doing their training at Beaumont Municipal," Ware said. "It was just basic pilot training."
He declined further comment on the pilots and also to release the identity of the three men pending notification of their families.
Beaumont Fire Department Capt. Keith Stewart said fire fighters were dispatched at 6:57 p.m. Saturday and discovered two fatalities at the scene. The crash site was then turned over to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Sheriff Mitch Woods said the crash occurred off FM 105 just outside the Beaumont city limits near Al Cook's Nursery, and later said there were, in fact, three passengers who died when the plane went down.
"It's a twin-engine jet and it looks like there were three passengers and they were all deceased," Woods said. "The DPS will be handling the investigation and securing the scene until NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and Federal Aviation Administration officials come tomorrow morning."
DPS officials were unable to be reached for comment.
Woods said that Hobby lost contact with the aircraft around 7 p.m. A local witness, he said, also reported seeing the plane go down about the same time. No homes were damaged and no injuries occurred on the ground.
Ware said it is common for pilots in training to land several times at different airports during their training. The Hawker 700, a mid-size twin-engine jet with room for 7-8 passengers and capable of flying at 400 knots, left William P. Hobby Airport in Houston Saturday afternoon and the pilots were expected at Beaumont Municipal. He said the men would have returned to Hobby after training.
Citationkid
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wil
Well-known member
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My dear friend was the 3rd pilot in that plane. He was a new hire with that company. Ironically, he made it through 1 1/2 years of single pilot night freight in a Baron to get this opportunity. I got the call Sunday morning. I am sad. I wish everyone a great week and give your loved ones an extra hug- Wil
2000flyer
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PLANE CRASH UPDATE: Vidor Man Among Three Killed; Names Released To KBTV
( Air Date: 9/22/2003 )
The names of three pilots who died Saturday night
in a twin-engine jet crash have been released.
The Department of Public Safety in Beaumont says 36-year-old
David Shane Howard of Brenham was flying the plane when it crashed
in a field near Beaumont.
The D-P-S says 42-year-old Ronald Keith Trahan of Vidor, and
27-year-old Santiago Miravete of Webster also died in the crash.
The Hawker 700 aircraft was owned by Star Flite Aviation of
Houston.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman John Clabes says the
plane took off from Houston`s William P- Hobby Airport Saturday
evening.
It was flying on a training mission and was expected to land at
Beaumont Municipal Airport.
Clabes says radio and radar contact with the plane was lost.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
( Air Date: 9/22/2003 )
The names of three pilots who died Saturday night
in a twin-engine jet crash have been released.
The Department of Public Safety in Beaumont says 36-year-old
David Shane Howard of Brenham was flying the plane when it crashed
in a field near Beaumont.
The D-P-S says 42-year-old Ronald Keith Trahan of Vidor, and
27-year-old Santiago Miravete of Webster also died in the crash.
The Hawker 700 aircraft was owned by Star Flite Aviation of
Houston.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman John Clabes says the
plane took off from Houston`s William P- Hobby Airport Saturday
evening.
It was flying on a training mission and was expected to land at
Beaumont Municipal Airport.
Clabes says radio and radar contact with the plane was lost.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
I don't usually read stories I see here about plane crashes unless it has to do with my company or a place I've worked before. This story changed that.
A guy I used to work with was onboard. Wil, I think we may be talking about the same person. I knew him somewhat. We flew together a few times, he gave me good advise that I still use to this day, and we went out with mutual friends on occasion. I've never personally called him to get a beer or anything like that.
I was up in our dispatch the other night and another pilot asked me if I saw this article. After I read I couldn't believe it.
When this particular pilot left our company I figured I'd never see him again unless we happened to get a job at another company in the future, or randomly at an FBO somewhere. Now I'll never see him again.
This is the first person I've known to die in a plane crash, and I pray It's the last. My prayers are with everyone involved.
Jaybird
A guy I used to work with was onboard. Wil, I think we may be talking about the same person. I knew him somewhat. We flew together a few times, he gave me good advise that I still use to this day, and we went out with mutual friends on occasion. I've never personally called him to get a beer or anything like that.
I was up in our dispatch the other night and another pilot asked me if I saw this article. After I read I couldn't believe it.
When this particular pilot left our company I figured I'd never see him again unless we happened to get a job at another company in the future, or randomly at an FBO somewhere. Now I'll never see him again.
This is the first person I've known to die in a plane crash, and I pray It's the last. My prayers are with everyone involved.
Jaybird
banned username 2
Banned User
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- Posts
- 3,254
jaybird said:
Here's a little advice, read EVERY article you see here about a plane crash. You might learn something that will someday save your own life.
jaybird said:
Unfortunately, it probably won't be the last. The longer you are in this industry the longer that list will get.
Good luck and fly safe!
Citationkid
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- Aug 11, 2003
- Posts
- 281
Rook
And shepherds we shall be
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2001
- Posts
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Hey wil,
Hey guys,
Yeah I got the news that saturday night from a friend of mine. Santiago was my CFI student back in Tulsa. Great student and great friend. Last time I saw him was in CMH when I was attending the NIFA convention. He was still flying for Starcheck at the time. I'll remember the conversations we had on where we wanted to end up flying and the laughs over beers at crawpappies back in TUL. 3 good pilots lost their lives but I hope there is something to be learned once all the facts are compiled. God bless...
Rook
Hey guys,
Yeah I got the news that saturday night from a friend of mine. Santiago was my CFI student back in Tulsa. Great student and great friend. Last time I saw him was in CMH when I was attending the NIFA convention. He was still flying for Starcheck at the time. I'll remember the conversations we had on where we wanted to end up flying and the laughs over beers at crawpappies back in TUL. 3 good pilots lost their lives but I hope there is something to be learned once all the facts are compiled. God bless...
Rook
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