Just before 1:30 p.m. Monday, a neighbor reported a plane crash in a cotton field in Hockley County.
The Hockley County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a plane was reported down in the 6300 block of Leopard Road, which is about halfway between Levelland and Ropesville.
Aerocare was dispatched and the pilot of that crop duster, David Gonzales, 47, of San Antonio was taken to University Medical Center in Lubbock. As of Monday evening UMC reported that Gonzales was in the Emergency Room of the hospital. Gonzales’ family members told EverythingLubbock.com that Gonzales is expected to recover and that he has been visiting with family in the hospital
The Texas Department of Public Safety said Gonzales suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.
John Gonzalez with DPS said, “Why the plane went down? We don’t know.”
Only one person was aboard.
The tail number on the plane indicated it was a crop duster owned by a company in Southlake. A family member of the pilot indicated he was working for a company based in Littlefield. Employees of Brown Flying Service in Littlefield went to the scene of the crash and confirmed that Gonzales is one of their employees.
The FAA was notified and arrived on scene to investigate. DPS said Monday evening that the investigation into this crash has now been handed over to the FAA.
