Plane Goes Down While On Patrol For Illegal Immigrants

While on routine patrol for undocumented immigrants, a Border Patrol agent apparently lost control of his aircraft and crashed near San Miguel, TX Wednesday afternoon.

Clint Thrasher, 32, died when his Cessna 182 went down about 15 miles north of San Manuel, Border Patrol spokesman Oscar Saldana said. The accident happened about 12:30 pm local time, as Thrasher flew above Brooks County's Santa Fe Ranch, a mile north of the Hidalgo County line.

"He lost his life in a tragic aircraft accident while protecting our country and preserving our way of life," the agency said in a written statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Thrasher family as we support them during this very difficult time."

Authorities still were investigating why the plane crashed, Saldana said. Border Patrol helicopters and planes regularly patrol ranch land. Thrasher, of McAllen, had been with the agency for 10 years, according to the Associated Press.

Thrasher took off from McAllen-Miller International Airport between 6:00 and 7:00 am, according to Phil Brown, MFE's aviation director.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 6277E        Make/Model: C182      Description: 182, Skylane
  Date: 04/25/2007     Time: 1720

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: MCALLEN   State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N6277E, A US BORDER PATROL, PUBLIC USE AIRCRAFT, CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN
  CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ONE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, 16 MILES FROM
  MCALLEN, TX

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Public Use      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  Departed:                             Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: 

  FAA FSDO: SAN ANTONIO, TX  (SW17)               Entry date: 04/26/2007

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.mcallenairport.com/