A pilot died on impact when the plane he was flying crashed while leaving Northwest Regional Airport in Roanoke, officials said.
The passenger was taken by air ambulance to a Fort Worth hospital, said Lonny Haschel, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The Piper Arrow PA-28R-180 was attempting take off to the south and, for an undetermined reason, lost altitude as it took flight, Haschel said.
“It crashed into a wooded area on the south end of the runway,” Haschel said.
The Roanoke Fire Department responded to the call, which came in at 1:22 p.m. Saturday.
The crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The pilot’s identity has not yet been released.
RACHEL MEHLHAFF can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is rmehlhaff@dentonrc.com.
