Texas DPS identifies man killed in San Marcos plane crash

NTSB investigating deadly San Marcos plane crash

Investigators say the plane hit the ground nose-first in the ALERRT first responder training facility in San Marcos, but it did not catch fire. The man flying the plane passed away.

SAN MARCOS, Texas - Authorities with the Texas Department of Public Safety have identified the man killed in the San Marcos plane crash as 48-year-old Robb Stuart Van Eman of West Lake Hills. The small passenger aircraft crashed just after departing from the San Marcos Regional Airport.

Investigators say the plane hit the ground nose-first in the ALERRT first responder training facility, but it did not catch fire, shortly before 6 a.m. on Wednesday, November 20. The weather was foggy with just a half-mile of visibility at the time so investigators will be looking into that as a cause, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Authorities told FOX 7 Austin that the air traffic control towers were closed when the airplane departed. However, they expected the pilot to check in sometime after take-off, but he did not. This indicated something had gone wrong.

The NTSB said most of air travel fatalities last year were from general aviation or small planes.

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One dead following small passenger aircraft crash in San Marcos