Shocking moment small plane crashes into Texas strip mall parking lot and explodes in fireball, killing pilot, 87, who won award for safety
A small plane was filmed crashing in the parking lot of a Texas strip mall, killing the 87-year-old pilot, who recently received an award for 50 years of safe flying.
Elzie Monroe McDonald was the sole occupant flying a single-engine Mooney M20 plane that crashed en route to Dallas to spend Thanksgiving with his family.
In Tuesday’s incident outside the Nail Addiction salon and Mama’s Daughter’s Diner in Plano, the propeller plane crashed nose first into the parking lot, sending shoppers fleeing in fear from the fireball.
Dramatic footage captured the terror from multiple angles, with the plane about to hit the tarmac NBCDFW.
A separate angle, captured from the nail salon at the same time, unleashed a huge fireball, causing an employee to scream.
This is the moment a small plane crashed in the parking lot of a Texas strip mall, killing the pilot and setting off a massive fireball
McDonald, an Arizona native, recently received the FAA’s Master Pilot Award, which recognizes 50 or more years of safe flying, according to the Wickenburg Sun.
Apocalyptic aftermath video showed the parking lot and a car on fire. And a creepy video captured by NBC DFW showed dinner plates filled with half-eaten food and a huge pile of Thanksgiving pies waiting in the evacuated restaurant.
“He’s safe, but he’s mentally compromised,” the salon owner told NBC 5 of the employee he saw fleeing. ‘He and his wife couldn’t sleep last night. Me and my wife couldn’t sleep last night either. Everyone is still very shaken by the incident.”
The harrowing incident impacted surrounding businesses in the area, including Nancy Procaccini of Mama’s Daughters’ Diner next door, sharing their experiences.
McDonald, an Arizona native, recently received the FAA’s Master Pilot Award, which recognizes 50 or more years of safe flying, according to the Wickenburg Sun
His family announced his tragic death on social media
Procaccini, still emotional after watching the security camera footage, described the close call during the crash.
‘I love my staff. And I love my customers dearly. And it was so close. You know, you could imagine that you’re almost in a wreck and it’s like you almost feel like you’ve been hit. That’s what it felt like to me,” Procaccini told NBC5.
She expressed relief that her customers, including children and long-time staff members, had escaped the damage.
“If it had hit even a few feet, I would have people sitting there: children, mothers, I had one of my staff members who had been with me for 35 years,” she added. ‘That’s what hits you. When you have so many people in your house, Mom’s house, that you love.’
She also praised her managers, Laura Bowers and Emigdio Alvaraz, for their quick and composed actions during the tragic incident.
A security camera at a nail salon captured a huge fireball erupting in the mall’s parking lot
Aftermath footage shows the twisted wreckage of a mall worker’s plane and car set on fire by burning debris
Bowers recalled the incident and emphasized the priority of ensuring everyone’s safety, even if it meant sacrificing her car.
The harrowing incident impacted surrounding businesses in the area, including Nancy Procaccini (pictured) of Mama’s Daughters’ Diner next door, sharing their experiences.
“I was trying to get out the door and I was actually looking at the camera myself and I just pushed this guy out of the way and I went out and I couldn’t get far out the door because the flames were flying around and I just came back in and said telling everyone to get out and call 911,” Bowers recalled.
Despite the traumatic experience, Mama’s Daughters’ Diner staff expressed gratitude for their safety and offered their condolences to the family of the pilot who tragically died in the crash.
The restaurant, usually busy with customers at the time, was empty on Wednesday.
“This place should be alive right now. There should be a lot of people here who come in here and see that that’s not the case. You just feel sad,” Alvaraz said.
She acknowledged the disruption caused by the cancellation of Thanksgiving pre-orders at the Plano location, but expressed gratitude for customer support
Diners abandoned their meals to escape the crash. The owner expressed relief that her customers, including children and longtime staff members, had escaped the damage
“This place should be alive right now. There should be a lot of people here and to come in here and see that that’s not the case, it just makes you feel sad,” said Alvaraz, manager of Mama’s Daughters Diner.
Firefighters are seen at the mall after Tuesday’s horror plane crash
Procaccini, visibly emotional, brought a bouquet of flowers to the crash site in honor of the pilot.
“I hate to be so dramatic and poetic about it, but something happened, where this one man sacrificed his life – I don’t know what happened on that plane, all I know is it missed our building and the nail salon. next door,” Procaccini said.
“Today I have the chance to feel that love that I…really needed,” she said, choking back tears. ‘Yes, it’s still emotional. I don’t think I’ve stopped crying.’
She acknowledged the disruption caused by the cancellation of Thanksgiving pre-orders at the Plano location, but expressed gratitude for customer support.
Restaurant managers hope to have the restaurant back up and running on Saturday morning, ahead of the busy holiday season.