4 dead after small plane crashes in west Harris County

HOUSTON – The Harris County Sheriff's Office is investigating a plane crash in west Harris County on Friday. The accident happened just after 4 p.m.

A small plane took off from West Houston Airport at 18000 Groschke Road and crashed in the woods nearby, according to officials. The plane caught fire in the woods a quarter-mile east of the runway. The plane was destroyed by fire after impact.

All four passengers died when the single-engine Piper PA-32 went down, officials said.

Gustavo Trevino recorded cell phone video seconds after the deadly crash.

Trevino works near West Houston Airport and saw the plane go down just after take off.

"The plane was taking off and I knew something was wrong," Trevino said.

He ran to the scene to look for people on board because he wanted to help.

"I tried to go in. I couldn't do anything," Trevino said. "The flames were too intense. Just too intense."

The plane crashed just a few feet from Sherry and George Turner's home.

They hear planes taking off and landing every day, but they knew something was wrong with this one.

"That didn't sound normal. As soon as I got outside, I saw the smoke and the heat signature from the fire," George said.

Investigators say they will use dental records and finger prints to identify them.

They haven't even confirmed the plane's tail number because it's so badly damage.

"The plane is completely destroyed and burned," DPS officer Stephen Woodard said. "Right now this is a terrible time for this community because this is a flight community. A lot of folks in this community own planes and they're pilots as well. So it's a trying time."

It is unclear what caused the plane to crash at this time.

"Right now, everything is being preserved. The aircraft engine and all the instruments are in place waiting for the experts to come in and do the proper investigation," Woodard said.


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