Investigators Confirm Name Of Pilot Killed In Okmulgee County Crash

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has confirmed the identity of a pilot killed in a plane crash Friday. Gene Willie Thompson died when his 2006 Cessna went down in Okmulgee County just before 5 p.m. September 19, 2014.

Thompson's plane failed to arrive at Jones Riverside Airpark, and the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office, OHP and Civil Air Patrol crews began searching near Sampson Road and 225 Road outside Preston.

"It's dense woods, very dense woods. Looks like he was attempting to possibly land in an open field and he clipped some trees and went down," Trooper Michael Taylor, OHP, told News On 6.

The plane wreckage was found at 7:37 p.m. Friday.

Thompson's sister contacted News On 6 and said he flew up to the area fairly often on business. 

9/19/2014 Related Story: OHP: One Dead After Plane Crashes In Okmulgee County

"The cause of the crash is under investigation," an OHP report states. Troopers have secured the crash site and are waiting for investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Thompson, 63, was the only person on the plane. Authorities initially said he was a Tulsa resident, but the crash report identifies him as living in Southlake, Texas.