NTSB continues investigation into deadly Plano plane crash
PLANO (CBS News Texas) — The National Transportation Safety Board says it's still investigating the single-engine plane crash that left the pilot dead in a Plano shopping center parking lot Tuesday evening.
Air Safety Investigator Brian Rutt says they're still looking at data to know whether a nearby air strip had anything to do with the accident. He also did not have any new information on the pilot to share with media.
The NTSB is continuing to look for communications between the pilot and air traffic control. They've been looking for a black box or another type of flight data recorder that could have been on board, although Rutt says it's not required in this type of aircraft.
Plano Fire-Rescue officials were called to the crash a little before 6:00 p.m. Tuesday evening in front of "Mama's Daughters' Diner," located in Prestonwood Park off West Park Boulevard.
A customer at a neighboring nail salon said they heard a loud boom before realizing what happened just feet away from the business.
"When I came out there was a lot of smoke and later I heard a noise again," shared Kiu Nguyen. "It was so scary. Everybody came and saw a lot of smoke."
Officials said the plane did not land on or collide with anything; however, the fire did impact an unoccupied parked car.
Witness Kevin Holigan said the flames were so high that he couldn't make out what was ablaze. "All I could see is the original fire and the car next to it on fire."
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the crash occurred north of Air Park-Dallas Airport but it is unknown if that is where it was heading.
No other information is available at this time, and both the FAA along with the National Transportation Safety Board will be handling the investigation.