Pilot Michael T. "Tommy" Box

Michael T. "Tommy" Box

Pilot Tommy Box was killed in a plane crash while conducting aerial patrols near Anthony, New Mexico, at about 6:30 am.

He had taken off from El Paso International Airport in a Cessna 170 to assist ground units search for illegal aliens in the area. He was flying at an altitude of approximately 100 feet when the engine stopped. He attempted to make an emergency landing in an irrigation canal approximately one mile northwest of Gadsden High School.

The aircraft struck a submerged object on the canal bottom upon impact. Pilot Box’s seat strap was broken and he was thrown into the instrument panel, killing him instantly. The plane burst into flames, however, border patrol inspectors he had been helping on the ground were able to remove him from the aircraft within minutes after the crash. They performed CPR however he was pronounced dead by a doctor who lived nearby. The investigation into the crash revealed that the motor of the aircraft ceased apparently due to difficulty in the fuel system.

Pilot Box was survived by his wife and son. He was buried in the Nevada Cemetery, Collin County, Texas.