INVESTIGATORS IDENTIFY PILOT KILLED IN MADISONVILLE PLANE CRASH

  

Authorities have identified the pilot who was killed in a plane crash in Madisonville early Monday morning.

68-year-old Apolo Diaz of Kansas City, Missouri died while trying to land his plane at the Madisonville Municipal Airport.  The single-engine plane crashed about 200 yards short of the runway.

Five passengers were airlifted to area hospitals in critical condition.  Three were taken to Bryan/College Station, while two were transported to Temple and Houston.  DPS says the names of the passengers will not be released.

The plane was identified as a Piper PA32-260 Cherokee Six.

Investigation has been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).