Police say the pilot died after crashing into a wooded area near a neighborhood.
MESQUITE, Texas — For Army veteran Dorian LeBeau, certain sights and sounds bring back memories that never fade. On Thursday, one of those sounds could be heard just outside his home.
A small plane crashed into a wooded area in Mesquite, just four miles from Mesquite Metro Airport. LeBeau’s ring camera captured the moments the plane fell from the sky.
The Federal Aviation Administrati on (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed to WFAA that the pilot, who died in the crash, was the only person on board.
LeBeau said it triggered events that happened during his time in Afghanistan. When he heard the jet’s unmistakable sound before impact, those memories became even more vivid.
“That sound that that jet made, it did bring back flashbacks for me, when I was over there,” said LeBeau.
The pilot was flying a Cessna 525 model jet. The FAA released a preliminary report on Saturday stating that the aircraft was in its initial climb phase when it crashed.
Aviation attorney and pilot Ron McCallum is a close friend of the pilot. He said the pilot had more than 20 years of flight experience.
“The captain was a dedicated father, a loyal husband, a loyal friend,” said McCallum.
While officials continue their investigation into what went wrong, LeBeau said the tragedy hits too close to home. “I really felt sorry for the pilot and his family. It’s very sad to hear anyone die, especially the way he did.”
For Lebeau, the sound of the plane’s final moments will linger.
“It just was disturbing to see that plane crash,” LeBeau said.
