Paradise school board member, his 2 children killed in Parker County plane crash
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A small plane crashed in Parker County on Sunday near Poolville, killing all three people aboard including the pilot, who was a North Texas school board member, and two of his children, according to authorities.
Authorities identified the victims of the crash as Paradise school district board member Heath Smith, 40, and his sons, Noah, 6, and Wyatt, 8, who were on their way home from a hunting trip, the Wise County Messenger reported. Heath Smith’s wife, Andrea, and their oldest son, Colin, 11, were not on the plane.
A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety said the crash happened in a field a good distance from the road. The closest intersection is Lone Star Road and BJ Lane near Poolville, about 47 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
The National Transportation Safety Board posted information on social media about the crash involving a Cessna 310R at 2:20 p.m. Sunday.
According to the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, the plane was a twin-engine Cessna that was flying to a Wise County airport.
A preliminary NTSB report said the plane left Carrizo Springs, in Dimmit County near the Texas-Mexico border, shortly before 11 a.m. and was traveling to Bridgeport when it crashed about 12:30 p.m. The wreckage was found about 10 miles southwest of Bridgeport Municipal Airport, where the plane had been scheduled to land at 12:20 p.m., according to FlightAware.
The NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.
Heath Smith, a general and bariatric surgeon who graduated from Texas A&M University Medical School in 2009 and practiced at Wise Health System’s My Bariatric Solutions in Fort Worth, was serving his third term as the Place 3 trustee on the Paradise ISD school board and was the board’s vice president, the Wise County Messenger reported. His brother Landon Smith also serves on the board.
“Our hearts are devastated for the Smith family,” Paradise ISD Superintendent Will Brewer told the Messenger in a written statement Sunday night. “Words cannot fully express the grief that we feel for their loss. The tragedy that this family has endured is unimaginable. Dr. Smith was a vital part of our school district as an alumnus, parent, and board member. He was passionate about his love for Paradise ISD and his impact on students and staff will be long lasting. Please keep the Smith family in your prayers.”
In a statement on social media, City of Paradise officials said, “Once again, Paradise experiences tragedy. We have suffered more than our fair share of loss, so together we plead to our larger Wise County community for prayers and support. Our children have lost 2 more friends, and our school board, a dedicated servant. As a whole, we are heartbroken. And as a whole, we will work to heal.”
The six-seat plane, with tail number N252DL, was manufactured in 1975 and currently registered to Plac Holdings LLC in Paradise.
This story was originally published January 14, 2024 at 2:50 PM.