VICTORIA, Texas – A twin-engine airplane crashed at an intersection next to a Victoria high school Wednesday afternoon, striking three cars and injuring multiple people.
The collision occurred at the intersection of Mockingbird Ln. and Zac Lentz Parkway around 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The Piper PA-31 only had a pilot on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
He was evaluated, one person was flown to an out-of-town hospital, and three people got transported with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Victoria Police Department.
NEW: @KPRC2 obtains dash cam video of Piper Navajo twin-engine airplane moments before it crashed at a busy intersection in Victoria, Texas around 3 p.m. The pilot survived and four people injured on the ground are expected to be ok. pic.twitter.com/OGrV3mVZML
— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) December 12, 2024
The cause of the crash hasn’t yet been determined, but dash cam video showed the plane flying dangerously low and struggling to maintain a straight path in the moments before it crashed.
The eyewitness who captured the video said he rushed to help the pilot unbuckle.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it will investigate the crash with the FAA.
When the plane crashed in the intersection, cross-traffic likely split its fuselage in half, according to Victoria Police Deputy Chief Eline Moya.
The left wing landed on top of and severely damaged a vehicle, another vehicle got flipped on its side, and a third vehicle appeared to be stuck at a red light.
"We’re very thankful that it is what we have now, and it’s not something that happened or could have been worse," Moya said.
The plane, built in 1981, took off from Victoria Regional Airport at 9:52 a.m., according to data from FlightAware. It was in the air for about five hours before the crash.
The plane is owned by Mississippi-based company, MARC, Inc., according to FAA records, which specializes in airborne survey and surveillance projects, according to the company’s website.
Reached by phone, someone at the company told KPRC 2 the aircraft was conducting a land survey in the Victoria area, which is consistent with the flightpath shown on FlightAware.
The FAA said that a preliminary accident report will likely be posted tomorrow, and it can be viewed here.
The intersection where the crash took place will also remain closed until further notice, and police said it could be days while investigators scour the scene.
BREAKING: A small plane has crashed in Victoria, Texas at a busy intersection. Police at the scene say three vehicles were involved. At this time, the condition of the passengers on board and people in vehicles is not known. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/h0zr4QnQIR
— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) December 11, 2024
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