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Oct 7, 2009 4:42 pm US/Central
Family Says Pilot Saved Fort Worth Oilman's Life
By Arezow Doost
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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Robert Schumacher (center) and family members.
KTVT / KTXA
CBS 11 News has learned more information about the pilot in Wednesday's plane crash in Wise County.
The plane, owned by Fort Worth oilman Robert Schumacher, went down near Aurora.
The crash scene was described by people in the area, who made 911 calls.
One caller told a dispatcher, "We're on 114 between Aurora and Rhome, and I just saw a low-flying twin-engine aircraft, going pretty quick, real wobbly, and it looked like it was about to go down." Another caller said, "I can't see where it went. I didn't hear a loud crash, but I heard kind of a 'pop'."
Today investigators continue to surround the field where the plane went down.
Around 4pm Tuesday, Kathy Kyle got a phone call that her father, Robert Schumacher, had been in a plane crash. "We feel very fortunate," she said.
The Beechcraft King Air plane was headed to Fort Worth's Meacham Airport from Oklahoma City.
Schumacker, along with his partner Jerry Namy, and Kendall Hill were onboard.
The pilot of the plane, J.R. Lawrence, was experienced. Investigators with the FAA say Lawrence reported both engines had failed.
"I think the pilot did all he could in the situation," explained Bill Gamble with the National Transportation Safety Board. "After an initial look he had a choice to get it on the ground before these wires or go through that and cause more problems."
Schumacker's son-in-law, Frank Kyle, said his father-in-law trusted Lawrence with his life. "Considering the fact of what could have happened versus what could have happened we are just thankful for all his skill sets."
According to family members, Schumacher used to be a pilot and would regularly take day trips on his private plane. "We go snow skiing. That's how we travel," Kathy said. "We didn't go on car trips. We went on plane trips. Planes have been a big part of his life. He [Schumacker] will fly again. He will probably buy a new plane."
Schumacker, the pilot, and other passenger's are recovering.
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