On Thursday morning, March 13, 2025, a small plane crashed near the Mesquite Airport in Dallas County, resulting in the pilot’s death. The crash occurred around 7:45 a.m., approximately one mile from the airport, in a wooded area near a creek.
The pilot was the only person on board and was pronounced dead at the scene. Fortunately, no structures were damaged despite the proximity to residential homes and schools. Mesquite fire crews extinguished small fires in the crash area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident.
This incident adds to a history of notable plane crashes in the Dallas area. For example, on November 29, 1949, American Airlines Flight 157 crashed during its approach to Dallas Love Field, resulting in 28 fatalities. Similarly, on May 3, 1968, Braniff International Airways Flight 352 disintegrated midair near Dawson, Texas, leading to 85 deaths.
More recently, on November 12, 2022, a midair collision occurred during the Wings Over Dallas air show at Dallas Executive Airport, tragically killing six people. The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation highlighted poor planning and inadequate oversight as contributing factors, emphasizing the need for reforms within the air show industry.