Two of the three reported casualties in a small plane crash outside of Abilene on Thursday, February 20, have been identified.
70-year-old Cleve Whitener and 65-year-old Gary Morrison were killed when the plane they were on went down around 6:00 a.m.
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The pilot is the only person whose identity has yet to be released.
The men were on board a Beechcraft BE20 Super King Air with tail number N860J, when it disappeared from the radar at air traffic control shortly before 6:00 a.m.
They were trying to return to the Abilene Reginal Airport after the pilot had confirmed electrical problems. It was the Federal Aviation Administration that notified local authorities to begin a search.
Cedar Ridge Aviation was the first to spot the plane’s crash site around 9:20 a.m., but due to the recent weather conditions, it made the terrain difficult to navigate. One of the helicopters that were called in circled above the site until the ground crew could make it in.
They found the site of the crash-landing on the west side of Lake Coleman.
The small plane was only up in the air about 20 minutes before going down in Coleman County. They estimated that they were about 69 miles from their point of origin.
Reports indicate that the pilot made several references to their equipment being faulty. He indicated that he was trying to fix it and then all communication ended.
According to the flight plan, the plane was on course for Harlingen. Several people have stated that the men were going to Whitener’s ranch in southern Texas for a hunting trip.
Whitener was the CEO and Chairman of Lauren Engineers and Constructors.
Morrison was an accountant at Burchell, Denson, and Morrison, P.C.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the accident.