Single-Engine Plane Crashes Near Katy, Pilot Killed on Impact

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

February 1, 2019

By Natalie Cook Clark

A single-engine airplane was able to miss dozens of nearby homes, crashing into a field behind the Westfield Village neighborhood at the 22000 block of Westerpine Lane around 4:15 p.m. Thursday. The pilot was killed on impact. The plane is said to have hit power lines just before crashing. UPDATED.

UPDATE (February 1, 2019 10:30 p.m.)

Authorities have identified the pilot as 69-year-old Calvert James Waller. Weather is being considered as it was raining that day but officials say that it is too early to determine if that was a factor. According to another pilot, the plane Waller was flying hadn't had a valid registration for more than 10 months.

No Survivors

"We know that there are no survivors," said Department of Public Safety Sgt. Richard Standifer. "The damage is from the prop to the wing. The whole front fuselage is in the ground." Authorities believe that the pilot was the only one on board but the extent of the damage to the plane has made assessing casualties difficult.

Narrowly Missed Neighborhood

The plane narrowly missed dozens of houses in the Westfield Village neighborhood. It hit power lines on it's way down that cut power for many nearby residents.

"This happened right near where I live," says Sabrina Steward. "Some people lost power in my neighborhood and we didn't have cable or WiFi. Prayers out to the family involved." Steward's cable and internet was restored at 9:30 p.m. last night.

"I know a lot of people that were even closer to the site," explains Steward. "They had to park their cars on the side of the street, I guess the area was blocked off. They had to walk home."

Plane Based out of West Houston Airport

"At this point we're still in the dark and are also wanting answers," says Woody Lesikar, Airport Manager, Director of Operations at West Houston Airport. "The plane was based here but we do not know who was flying. It was on it's way to our airport."

The plane is a single-engine Mooney M20. It crashed nose down.

According to the Department of Public Safety, the plane was on it's way from El Paso to Houston.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the cause.

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