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Plane With Ice On Wings Crashes Behind Andrews Home, Injuring Pilot, 3 Passengers

A Beechcraft Bonanza single engine propeller aircraft crashed Thursday morning while approaching Andrews County Airport, injuring all four people aboard.
By: Julia Deng
NewsWest 9

ANDREWS - A Beechcraft Bonanza single engine propeller aircraft crashed Thursday morning while approaching Andrews County Airport, injuring all four people aboard.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials, Andrews County Sheriff's deputies and fire officials assisted the Federal Aviation Administration in investigating the crash.

"As the aircraft was attempting to land, it began to accumulate ice build-up on the leading edges of the wings and tail, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft as he was decreasing power in an attempt to land," said DPS Trooper Sean Baxter. "The aircraft then crash landed at 12:48 a.m. in a pasture area near the north side of the airfield."

The pilot, 42-year-old Tom Henley, and his three passengers - Melinda Young, Julie Good and Sara Henley - were all transported to Permian Regional Medical Center with non-incapacitating injuries.

"It sounds like they're going to be okay, so I'm relieved," said a friend, Amy Jordan, whose house is less than 100 yards from the crash site. "I heard [the plane approaching] when I was getting ready for bed last night, but I had no idea it had crashed right behind my backyard."

Her family has lived within walking distance of Andrews County Airport for 10 years.

"This is the first time that anything like this has happened so close to the house," she told NewsWest 9. "We have air traffic that goes over the house all the time, so we're used to the sound and we actually enjoy it. But this is a little too close to home."

Her 11-year-old son, Riley Jordan, examined the wreckage from their backyard.

"The turbine on the front of the plane broke off, the doors are broke off and the front of the plane is tore up," he said. "I've never seen anything like this [near our house]."

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