MARLIN, Texas — A Greenwood woman was one of two people killed in a small engine plane crash Tuesday in Marlin, Texas.
The crash happened across from the Marlin Municipal Airport, officials said.
Thomas Sands, Jr., 55, and Cinnamon Franklin, 27, were both identified as being killed in the crash, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Authorities said Sands was a resident of Sugarland, Texas, while Franklin was from Greenwood.
Darian Hornaday knew Franklin since sixth grade. She said they both had quirky personalities and had lots of inside jokes.
"We've grown up together our whole lives," Hornaday told WRTV. "There's just so many things I could talk about with her."
Hornaday says her friend wanted to see the world, travel and fly larger planes.
"[I would tell her] I'm proud of her and that she is an amazing person and that I love her so much," Hornaday said. "She went out doing exactly what she loved to do ... she's a beautiful person and she should always be remembered for who she was."
Sands, a retired Lt. Col. in the Army and West Point grad. was awarded the Bronze Star. His friend tells Scripps station KXXV Sands had significant flight time as a pipeline pilot, which is a difficult job for even decent pilots.
Officials have yet to release further details on how the Cessna TU206 crashed Tuesday afternoon during a landing.
Scripps station KXXV reports Falls County Sheriff Joe Lopez said the plane overshot its landing and ended up in a field.
The aircraft crashed about 70 yards (65 meters) from the end of the airport’s lone runway, said Marlin City Manager Cedric Davis.
The cause of the crash was not immediately determined. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
WRTV reporter Adam Schumes and Real-Time Editors James Howell Jr. and Michelle Kaufman contributed to this report.
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