Was To Fly Former President Bush To South American Conference

A Gulfstream bizjet on its way to pick up former President George HW Bush went down in poor weather early Monday morning, just south of Houston's Hobby Airport, authorities said. None of the three crew members on board survived.

The aircraft, identified by the NTSB as a G-II, was headed to Houston to pick up the former president, who was headed to Ecuador. "I was deeply saddened to learn of the plane crash this morning... I'd flown with this group before and know them well," Bush said in a statement. "I join in sending heartfelt condolences to each and every member of their families."

The aircraft was on approach to Hobby when its wing apparently clipped a light pole on the Sam Houston Tollway, according to law officers.

The Gulfstream G-II was owned by Jet Place of Tulsa, OK, and was based at Dallas (Love). Owners of the company declined to identify the three crew members on board.

The weather at the crash site was reportedly very poor at the time of the accident. Ceilings were low and there was fog in the area. The weather didn't improve as recovery teams sifted through the wreckage Monday. Thunderstorms slowed the search effort considerably.

Hobby controllers say there was no distress call from the aircraft as it made its approach. When it was a minute overdue, controllers issued a crash alert.

Former President Bush canceled his Ecuadorian trip in the wake of the accident.

NTSB Statement

The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a Go-Team to investigate the crash of a Gulfstream near the Hobby Airport in Houston, TX.

About 0615 CST, [Monday] a G-II, (N85VT) with 3 persons aboard, reportedly clipped a light pole before crashing in a nearby field. All on board were fatally injured.

Frank Hilldrup is the Investigator-in-Charge of the NTSB team of ten. NTSB Vice Chairman Mark Rosenker will accompany the team and serve as principal spokesperson for the on-scene investigation. Lauren Peduzzi is the NTSB press officer traveling with the team.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov