Small Plane Goes Down Near Batson

BATSON, April 11, 2008 - Friday morning the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department received information that a small plane may have crashed east of Daisetta. The plane was discovered on the ground in Hardin County just north and east of Batson off Old Sour Lake Road north of SH 105.

The single engine plane came down upright in a pasture at least 500 yards from the nearest roadway. Doug Taylor of Liberty, was running about 200 head of cattle on the property and one fence had to be cut in order for emergency vehicles to gain access to the crash sight.

Firefighters utilized the Jaws of Life to remove the pilot and only occupant from the wreckage of the plane.

Search and rescue helicopters circled overhead during the rescue of the pilot.

A Southeast Texas Air Rescue helicopter landed near the crash sight and flew the pilot to an area hospital in critical condition.

The pilot was identified as Robert Skinner of Magnolia, TX.  Sources say Skinner is in paralyzed and in critical condition.

The FFA is investigating the cause of this crash.