4 people from a Germantown church died in a plane crash in Texas. Here's what we know.
A plane crash in Yoakum, Texas, killed four members of a Germantown church and left the pastor hospitalized after surgery. The investigation into the fatal crash, about two hours and 45 minutes west of Galveston, Texas, is in its early stages, but some details about the plane and passengers is available.
Here's what we know so far:
Who were the pilot and passengers?
Harvest Church in Germantown identified Bill Garner, executive pastor at Harvest Church, Steve Tucker, an elder at the church, and church staff members Tyler Patterson and Tyler Springer as having died in the crash. The church pastor, Kennon Vaughn, survived and was out of surgery Wednesday morning, the church said. Tucker was the pilot.
Vaughan is the founder of Downline Ministries in Memphis, which he established in 2006. He was commissioned to plant Harvest Church in October 2013, according to an archived biography at the church’s website. Vaughan is married and is the father of five sons, according to his Facebook page.
What kind of plane crashed?
A Piper PA 46-350P, fixed wing, single engine aircraft registered to SCT Enterprises LLC, which is registered to Tucker. The Federal Aviation Administration list the plane as having been built in 2008.
MORE:Four from Memphis-area church die in Texas plane crash; fifth injured
Where did the crash happen?
Yoakum, Texas, is a town of about 5,900 people about two hours and 45 minutes west of Galveston, Texas and 45 minutes north of Victoria, Texas. The plane crashed just before landing at the Yoakum Municipal Airport.
What was the flight path?
According to the flight tracker website flightaware.com, the plane had left Memphis earlier on Jan. 17, 2023, with a destination of Yoakum Municipal Airport. A few days earlier, on Jan. 14, the plane had flown from Dallas to Memphis, a return trip after flying from Memphis to Dallas on Jan. 12.
What's next?
A spokesperson for the NTSB said an investigator from the agency was expected on scene sometime Wednesday. The investigator will document the scene, examine the aircraft, request any air traffic communications, radar data, weather reports and try to contact any witnesses.
How long will the investigation take?
The NTSB said a preliminary report may be available in as soon as 10 days, but the full investigation typically takes one to two years to complete and determine cause of a crash.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What we know about the plane crash that killed 4 people from Tennessee
