4 Tenn. Church Members Dead, 1 Injured After Elder's Plane Crashes in Texas: 'We Ask for Your Prayers'

Photo: WREG

Four members of a Tennessee church were killed and another member was seriously injured after their plane crashed in a small Texas town.

The single-engine Piper PA-46 plane crashed"under unknown circumstances"in Yoakum on Tuesday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The pilot and three passengers were killed in the crash, per the FAA report. A fourth passenger was seriously injured.

The victims of Tuesday’s crash were allmembers of Harvest Churchin Germantown, Tenn., according to a post on the church’s Facebook page.

Harvest Church identified the victims killed in the crash as Bill Garner, Steve Tucker, Tyler Patterson and Tyler Springer. Kennon Vaughan, the lone survivor, “is in stable condition” at a local hospital, according to the church.

Garner wasan executive pastorat the church, while Tucker was an elder, according toUSA Today.

“We ask for your prayers and kindly request that the families of all involved are given the proper space to grieve at this time,” the church wrote.

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The planewent downaround 11 a.m. local time less than a mile from the Yoakum Municipal Airport, according to ABC News. Residents reported foggy conditions that morning.

Sergeant Ruben San Miguel, a spokesman for Texas' Department of Public Safety, told theVictoria Advocatethat the plane"was preparing to land"when it crashed into an open field.

The only survivor was taken to Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, per the report.

On Wednesday, Harvest Church said Vaughan “isbreathing on his ownand has been able to communicate through writing.” He still needs surgery “to repair injuries to his abdomen,” but the church is pleased with his progress.

“Kennon is at one of the top trauma hospitals in the country and we are so thankful for God’s provision,” the church said on Facebook.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB) are investigating the crash.

source: people.com