PLANO, Texas — UDPATE-111.23.2023 6:15 am – The pilot is now identified as 87 year old Elzie M. “Monroe” McDonald from Aguila, Arizona; formerly, a North Texas resident. Radio transmissions indicate the pilot was having trouble operating in the dark conditions. McDonald is described by air afficianado friends as an extremely safe pilot. Officials report he was flying into North Texas to visit for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
ORIGINAL POST: A small plane has crashed in Plano outside of Mama’s Daughters’ Diner, a spokesman for the Plano Fire Department confirms.
Sources tell our media partner WFAA that the pilot died in the crash.
Witnesses at the scene report seeing a plane take a sharp nosedive. They also report thick black smoke in the area.
Credit: Corban Garcia
Video from the scene shows a small plane on fire in a parking lot outside of a strip mall located at 6509 W. Park Blvd. At least one other vehicle appears to be on fire as well.
The video also shows firefighters responding to the fire, dousing it with water from hoses.
Copyright 2023. WBAP/KLIF News. All Rights Reserved.