Fatal Plane Crash Just North of Shreveport [AUDIO]

A single death is being reported from a plane crash this afternoon just north of Old Mooringsport Road near U.S. 71.

A driver travelling along highway 71 notified emergency services when the plane wreckage was spotted in some trees near the roadway.

Listen to audio from the scene of the crash:

John Lee from 710 KEEL

Caddo Sheriff Spokesperson Cindy Chadwick

Caddo Sheriff Spokesperson Cindy Chadwick

The pilot of a Europa experimental aircraft that went down just north of Shreveport today has been identified as David Williamson, 71, of Bossier City.

Witnesses reported seeing the plane in distress around 11:40 a.m. flying low over LA Hwy. 71. At 12:06 p.m., a motorist called the Caddo Sheriff's Office and reported a plane down at 5000 Hwy. 71 North. Emergency crews responded and found Williamson strapped in the plane, which had crashed between several oak trees on a private farm just outside the city. He was dead at the scene.

The Sheriff's Office confirmed that Williamson took off from the downtown airport at 11:39 a.m. He was not required to file a flight plan, nor did he do so. Before taking off, Williamson said he was heading to the north practice area about seven miles from the airport, and it was not necessary to monitor him on RADAR.

Investigators with the Caddo Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Unit documented the crash and will turn over their information to the FAA, which is expected on site tonight, and the NTSB, which will arrive tomorrow from Colorado.

Shreveport Airport Authority
Mark Crawford

A single-engine plane with one person on board crashed this morning, shortly after taking off from the Shreveport Downtown Airport.

The plane disappeared from radar about five minutes after taking off at 11:49 a.m. It went down off U.S. 71 just north of Old Mooringsport Road, resulting in the pilot’s death. The National
Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. The Shreveport Airport Authority is cooperating with the NTSB in their investigation.

The plane was not registered with the Airport Authority.

The Shreveport Airport Authority wishes to express condolences and prayers for the victim’s family.