On Saturday, October 3rd, at approximately 3:04 p.m. an airplane crash occurred in northern San Saba County. The crash happened about 10 miles east of San Saba near the Shaw Bend area.

According to DPS Trooper Mark Owens, the pilot, 59 year-old Alan Richard Crawford, of Buchanan Dam, was enroute from Fort Worth to Llano when his plane began having engine trouble.

Crawford attempted to make an emergency landing in a nearby field when he clipped a mesquite tree on approach. The aircraft came down short of the field and crashed into several other mesquite trees and a barbed wire fence. Property owners heard the crash and called 911.

Crawford has 30 years experience as a commercial pilot. The Glassair Super II single engine plane he was flying was Crawford's personal aircraft and received extensive damage from the crash.

Crawford suffered minor injuries, but refused to be transported by EMS.

An FAA investigator arrived at the scene the following day and his investigation is underway to determine the cause of the engine trouble.