POOLVILLE, Texas — Three people were killed in a plane crash on Sunday afternoon near Poolville, Texas, in Parker County, officials confirmed.
According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), three people -- including the plane's pilot -- were on board a Cessna C310 aircraft that was traveling from Carrizo Springs, Texas, near the U.S.-Mexico border to Bridgeport in Wise County when it crashed near Poolville at about 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
According to the Parker County Sheriff's Office, all three people on board the plane died in the crash.
One of the victims was Dr. Heath Smith, the Paradise ISD Board of Trustees Vice President.
"Our hearts are devastated for the Smith family," said Paradise ISD Superintendent Will Brewer. "Words cannot fully express the grief that we feel for their loss. The tragedy that this family has endured is unimaginable. Dr. Smith was a vital part of our school district as an alumnus, parent, and board member. He was passionate about his love for Paradise ISD and his impact on students and staff will be long lasting. Please keep the Smith family in your prayers."
Dr. Smith was first elected to the board on November 17, became VP in November 2020, and was reelected in November 2023 after running unopposed.
“He embodied what a trustee should be and firmly believed in being a good steward of the legacy of Paradise ISD," said Brewer.
On Tuesday, Wise County Christian Services sent grief counselors to the schools to help students and staff cope with the loss.
“Today is nothing to do with learning in academics, it’s about healing and support and loving one another," said Brewer.
After receiving reports of the downed airplane near Poolville, the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, LifeCare Ambulance and local fire departments all responded to the scene.
According to preliminary information from the NTSB, the plane's wreckage was found 10 miles southwest of the Bridgeport Municipal Airport that was intended as its destination.
An investigator with the NTSB is expected to arrive at the wreckage location to document the scene and examine the aircraft to help determine the cause of the crash, the agency said.
Sunday's fatal crash is the latest in a string of incidents involving small planes across North Texas in recent months.
In early November, a small plane crashed into a car after skidding off the runway while making an emergency landing at an airport in McKinney. In late November, an 87-year-old pilot died as he crashed a small plane in Plano after being unable to locate a small airport's runway. In mid-December, a pilot made an emergency landing in the middle of Highway 80 near the Mesquite Metro Airport in Forney. In late December, a pilot died after crashing his plane into the side of a house near an aviation community in Van Zandt County.