Low-Flying Aircraft Struck Utility Pole

The pilot of a Cessna 172M was killed Saturday afternoon, and his passenger seriously injured, when their aircraft impacted a utility pole near the northeast Texas community of Gun Barrel City.

The Athens Record reports Chris Gaylord Anderson, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene. Passenger Mitchell Pasley, 48, was transported to a Tyler, TX hospital. He was listed in fair condition Sunday morning.

Officials say the aircraft collided with a utility pole near a local elementary school at 1720 local time. The aircraft broke into several pieces, with the cockpit coming to rest in an inverted attitude. Both men had been thrown from the aircraft on impact.

Witnesses told authorities the plane may have experienced engine trouble before the accident, based on sounds from the plane as it flew overhead.

IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 13246    Make/Model: C172   Description: 172, P172, R172, Skyhawk, Hawk XP, Cutla
 Date: 03/08/2008   Time: 2315

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

LOCATION
 City: GUN BARRELL CITY  State: TX  Country: US

DESCRIPTION
 AIRCRAFT CRASHED AFTER THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED A UTILITY
 POLE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES, AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED
 SERIOUS INJURIES, GUN BARRELL CITY, TX.

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

WEATHER: VFR

OTHER DATA
 Activity: Unknown   Phase: Cruise   Operation: OTHER

 FAA FSDO: DALLAS, TX (SW05)          Entry date: 03/10/2008

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov