A Greenwood woman was identified as one of two people killed in a Tuesday plane crash in central Texas.
Cinnamon Franklin, 27, of Greenwood, and Thomas Sands Jr., 55, of Sugar Land, Texas were identified as the occupants of the single-engine Cessna aircraft that crashed Tuesday near Marlin, Texas, a city located about 30 miles south of Waco, Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the victims Wednesday afternoon.
Both Sands and Franklin were pronounced dead at the scene. Their next of kin has been notified, said Ryan W. Howard, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson.
The six-seat aircraft was en route from Houston Executive Airport to Waco Regional Airport when it went down just before 1 p.m. CDT Tuesday near Marlin Airport, about 30 miles short of its destination, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
The aircraft crashed about 70 yards from the end of the airport’s runway, Marlin City Manager Cedric Davis told the Associated Press. The plane was registered in South Bend.
Franklin is a former city of Greenwood employee. She worked for the city for five years, leaving a few months ago to pursue a career as a commercial pilot, Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers said.
“She was an excellent employee; she did a great job. Our condolences go out to her family at this difficult time,” Myers said.
The cause of the crash was not immediately determined. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
