One dead in San Marcos plane crash

CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - A twin-engine plane crashed near the San Marcos Municipal Airport early Thursday, killing the only person aboard.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the craft went down near the Gary Job Corps Center, close to State Highway 21 and State Highway 80.

The crash occurred around 6 a.m. on what was described as federally owned gated property. The pilot was identified later Thursday as Clarence Schollmeyer, 66, of North Dakota. He was taking the craft on a test run from the airport and was on his way back when the plane went down.

Witnesses told officials they saw "a ball of fire," said Trooper Robbie Barrera. The ground at the crash site appeared to be burned, but the plane did not appear to be burned.

The craft was a Cessna 320.

The Federal Aviation Administration wass sending a team to investigate, but the National Transportation Safety Board will be the lead agency for the investigation.

Thursday morning's fog has not been ruled out as a possible cause of the crash.

Gary Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the US Department of Labor that works with those ages 16 to 24.