Crews to Recover Crashed Airplane from Lake Livingston Tonight

On Tuesday, August 9, an airplane that was assisting in extinguishing an area wildfire crashed into Lake Livingston.

Thankfully, the pilot survived the crash and first aid was rendered on the shore of the lake.

As with any accident involving an aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the aircraft and conditions that led to the crash. The first steps of that process involve interviewing the pilot and retrieving the remains of the aircraft.  That recovery will happen late tonight.

According to a release from the Texas Department of Transportation, US 190 West will be closed for several hours tonight as multiple agencies work together to remove that crashed aircraft from Lake Livingston.

Beginning at about 1:30 am Friday and continuing until about 4 am, US 190 will be closed in both eastbound and westbound lanes from FM 356 to the Lake Livingston Causeway Bridge. Barricades will be in place and TxDOT will monitor the closure.

The closure and work will be done in cooperation with the FAA and NTSB, the Onalaska Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Department, and HazMat crews.

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“We are expecting crane operations to begin at about 2 am,” said Rhonda Oaks, TxDOT public information officer. “Motorists are urged to stay alert for this full closure, obey all traffic control and stay alert for moving equipment and workers near the bridge. As soon as the aircraft is removed and secured from the water, US 190 will be open for travel. We expect that to happen at about 4 am.”

For updates and closures statewide, visit drivetexas.org.