VERMILION PARISH – UPDATE (3:15 p.m.): FAA has confirmed that the plane in a fatal Kaplan crash is registered to David L. Norman of Seabrook, Texas, a city in Harris County.
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The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office is now able to confirm two fatalities as a result of the plane crash. Sheriff Couvillon says that the Federal Aviation Administration is just arriving on scene, and an investigator with the National Transportation and Safety Board is in route to the crash site.
Additional information will be provided by the NTSB as the investigation goes forward.
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Emergency officials are investigating a crash involving a plane and an old KATC tower in the Kaplan area.
Acadian Ambulance officials say that one person is dead as a result of the crash. According to the FAA, the plane was a Piper Cherokee (PA-28). No word yet on the victim’s identity.
The tower stood at 1,800 feet and was being rented by KAJN radio.
According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon, deputies are on the scene of the crash located off of Rosewood Road, west of Kaplan. The Sheriff’s Office has secured the scene and has made contact with the National Transportation and Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, who are responsible for handling these types of investigations.
Video of the scene can be viewed at the end of the article.
KAJN-FM issued this statement on the crash:
“Shortly before 8 this morning a plane crashed into the tower that held the KAJN-FM broadcast antenna. According to Acadian Ambulance officials, one person is dead as a result of the tower crash. The tower collapse knocked KAJN-FM off the air.
GM Barry Thompson said that God’s grace kept the KAJN transmitter building from being damaged by the falling tower. KAJN continues to broadcast on the internet at KAJN.com. Arrangements are underway to restore the KAJN-FM signal using another tower in the vicinity.
The fallen tower was owned by KATC.”
Here is video of the scene from Acadian Air Med:
