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Student pilot, instructor reportedly experienced mechanical issue before crash in San Jacinto Co.

Plane crash (Texas DPS)

SAN JACINTO COUNTY, Texas – The San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office said authorities are at the scene of a small plane crash in the area.

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The crash happened north of SH 150 W. in the Evergreen area of the county. The sheriff’s office said minor injuries have been reported.

According to Texas DPS, the plane crashed in an open field off FM 945, about three miles north of Highway 150.

The preliminary information is that at 1:28 p.m., a Piper aircraft departed the Conroe – North Houston Regional Airport. A student pilot and instructor reportedly experienced a mechanical issue during the flight. The instructor pilot reportedly was able to fly the plane to an open field, where it crashed while landing.

The instructor was identified as Joseph Blum, 69, of Montgomery. He was transported by a helicopter to a Conroe hospital for treatment.

Darlene Woelfel, 21, from Magnolia, was identified as the student pilot. He was also taken to a Conroe hospital for treatment.

The FAA has been notified and will conduct an investigation.

The FAA released the following statement on the crash:

A twin-engine Piper PA-34 landed in a field northeast of Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport in Texas around 3 p.m. local time Wednesday, May 3. Two people were on board.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.


About the Author

Christian Terry covered digital news in Tyler and Wichita Falls before returning to the Houston area where he grew up. He is passionate about weather and the outdoors and often spends his days off on the water fishing.

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