NTSB Says It Is Treating The Incident As "Intentional"

ANN Realtime Update 1636 ET 02.18.2010: The national associations representing general aviation are in consultation with federal officials about the incident. “AOPA is closely monitoring the situation and working to gather a factual account of the events," said Craig Fuller, President and CEO of AOPA. “We will continue to stay in touch with the FAA, Transportation Security Administration, and Department of Homeland Security officials as the situation unfolds.”

On their website, EAA said "EAA is monitoring the situation and maintaining its contacts with federal authorities. Further details will be reported when they become available."

The NBAA also released a brief statment on their website, saying "NBAA has been in continual contact with the Transportation Security Administration since the incident began, and will continue to work closely with the TSA to enhance security and facilitate general aviation operations."

ANN Realtime Update 1447 ET 02.18.2010: The NTSB has dispatched an investigator to the scene of Thursday morning's crash of a small plane into an office building in Austin, Texas.  Leah Yeager has been designated as the Investigator-in-Charge.  Although certain statements in the news media have been attributed to the NTSB, until the Board's investigation begins, the NTSB has no information to release on the facts or possible causes of this event, and has not authorized any statements to that effect.

The NTSB is coordinating with law enforcement authorities and, as information is developed, a determination will be made about what federal investigative efforts are appropriate.

ANN Realtime Update 1425 ET 02.18.2010: Fox News reports that the airplane departed from Georgetown Municipal Airport (KGTU) in Texas. The information is confirmed by airport manager Travis McClain.

ANN Realtime Update 1342 ET 02.18.2010: Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo says in a televised news conference that the airplane was not stolen. CNN reports that a "Federal Official" identifies the pilot as Joseph Andrew Stack. Stack left a 6 page suicide note on his website. Austin officials say two people were transported to the hospital, one remains unaccounted for.

ANN Realtime Update 1328 ET 02.18.2010: CNN reports the FAA says the aircraft was a Piper PA-28 Cherokee owned by the pilot, not a Cirrus SR22 as originally reported.

Original Story: A small plane has crashed into a 7 story office building in Austin, Texas, killing the pilot and injuring several in and around the building.

Multiple media sources are reporting that the building houses an IRS office. Fox News reports that the pilot set his house on fire before taking off in the plane and intentionally flying it into the building. While the NTSB will not confirm that at this time, they said they are treating this as an intentional act.

Several witnesses said the airplane, tentatively identified as a Cirrus SR22, was flying low over the area. Matt Farney, 39 he thought the airplane was going to buzz a nearby apartment complex, then the plane dove sharply. "It was a ball of flames that was high or higher than the apartments. It was surreal. It was insane. ... It didn't look like he was out of control or anything."

Witnesses inside the building said they saw the plane flying at the windows, then dive. IRS Agent William Winnie was working in his third floor office when the plane hit. “It looked like it was coming right in my window,” Winnie told "The Statesman", an area newspaper. Winnie said the plane veered down and smashed into the lower floors. “I didn’t lose my footing, but it was enough to knock people who were sitting to the floor.”

Video from the scene shows the building on fire with most of the front destroyed.

Details continue to be sketchy. ANN will follow this story through the day and bring you updates as we learn them.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov