Four from Memphis-area church die in Texas plane crash; fifth injured

Four members of a Memphis-area church died Tuesday in a plane crash in Texas, with a fifth person taken to the hospital.

Those who died include Bill Garner, executive pastor at Harvest Church, Steve Tucker, an elder at the church, and church staff members Tyler Patterson and Tyler Springer, according to a Facebook post from the Germantown church.

“All were beloved members of Harvest Church and their loss currently leaves us without the proper words to articulate our grief,” the church posted. “We ask for your prayers and kindly request that the families of all involved are given the proper space to grieve at this time.”

WHAT WE KNOW:4 people from a Germantown church died in a plane crash in Texas. Here's what we know.

Harvest Church’s lead pastor, Kennon Vaughan, is in stable condition at a Texas hospital, the church posted.

While the church's statement on Facebook did not mention the plane crash, a representative of the church confirmed that the four men died in a plane headed to Yoakum, Texas. Tucker was the pilot of the plane.

According to the church’s website, one of their church planting partners is located in Texas, about two hours from where the crash occurred.

The crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Agency, which said Tuesday afternoon that the single-engine Piper PA-46 crashed south of the Yoakum Municipal Airport in Yoakum, Texas, on Tuesday morning with five people on board.

Yoakum, Texas, is about two hours and 45 minutes west of Galveston, Texas.

The plane was preparing to land at the airport when it crashed, said Sgt. Ruben San Miguel, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman.

A spokesperson for the NTSB said an investigator from the agency is expected on scene sometime Wednesday to document the scene, examine the aircraft, request any air traffic communications, radar data, weather reports and try to contact any witnesses. The investigator will also request maintenance records of the aircraft, and medical records and flight history of the pilot. 

The NTSB did not have information as to the plane's origin or destination.

Neither the FAA nor the NTSB identify people involved in aircraft accidents.

The church held a time of prayer and mourning, Tuesday, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Katherine Burgess covers county government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.