UPDATE: DPS identifies victims in deadly plane crash

ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- UPDATE: The Texas Department of Public Safety has identified two people killed in a plane crash in Ector County early Tuesday morning.

The pilot, 48-year-old Joseph Vincent Summa, of Bellaire, Texas, and his passenger, 49-year-old Joleen Cavaretta Weatherly, of Orange, Texas, were both pronounced dead at the scene.

The preliminary information revealed the aircraft was flying southbound at a low altitude over Yukon and Alderfer Avenue when it struck a power line. The plane continued southbound, where it crashed into a private alley, striking several homes and sheds. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were notified and have begun their investigation.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a plane believed to have crashed in Ector County early Tuesday morning was registered to Joseph Vincent Summa, Chief Executive Officer of TechCorr USA, LLC and Summa Group, LLC, out of Pasadena.

Summa has more than 20 years experience building energy related businesses involved in pipeline, refinery, petrochemical, and drilling production.

While law enforcement officials have not confirmed the identity of anyone on board, Summa’s LinkedIn profile indicates he is a pilot. The FAA has Summa listed as a commercial pilot rated to pilot both commercial and private flights involving C/CE-500 and C/CE-560XL aircraft.

Again, the names of those involved in this crash have not been released, we are waiting on conformation from officials at this time. We have also reached out to TechCorr for comment and are awaiting a response from the company’s legal team.

Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis has confirmed that at least two people have died following a plane crash south of Schlemeyer Field in Odessa early Tuesday morning.

The Cessna twin-engine plane took off from Schlemeyer Field heading to Ellington Field in Houston before crashing a short time later.

“Witnesses said the plane was struggling to gain altitude…took out some powerlines, and ultimately crashed,” Griffis said. “You can see the pilot attempted to avoid houses…a witness said he saw the plane struggling and then upon impact he heard an explosion…some more explosions, and felt the heat.”

While the names of the people have not been released, Griffis did confirm at least two people have died. Another woman, residing in a mobile home on the ground, was rescued by fire crews and taken to the hospital for treatment from for inhalation.

The Red Cross is also on the scene and has set up a temporary shelter soon for those who have been displaced; that’s located at Connection Church, located at 4241 Tanglewood Lane. Please enter through the north entrance.

OFR Chief Jason Cotton confirmed that several mobile homes and storage buildings have been burned but that crews gained control of the fire shortly before 9:00 a.m.. No other injuries on the ground have been reported.

Additionally, crews also have several roads blocked off: Yukon between Andrews Highway and Dixie Boulevard, and the area around the crash site, off of 68th Street between Alderfer Avenue and Stevenson Avenue.

Griffis said these roads will remain blocked off for hours as the investigation continues; the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been called in to investigate.

This is a rare occurrence in Odessa; Griffis said he’s only investigated one other plane crash in Odessa since he began serving and that that crash was not nearly as devastating as the current one he and his crews are investigating now.

“It’s a sad day in Odessa,” he said.

We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Crews are battling a fire in Odessa seemingly started after a plane crashed near Schlemeyer Field.

Details are limited at this time.

Here is what we know:

Around 7:00 a.m. on August 20, Odessa Fire Rescue responded to a plane crash on the 6800 block of Alderfer Avenue.

At the scene, crews found heavy smoke, fire, downed power lines, and damage to a business on Yukon Road.

Witnesses said a small aircraft took off from Schlemeyer Field and traveled down Yukon before crashing near an alleyway near 68th Street between Alderfer Avenue and Stevenson Avenue.

The plane has not yet been identified, nor have any details about the people on board. Sheriff Mike Griffis is expected to hold a news conference in the next few minutes. We will update as more details become available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com.