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Mineola pilot crashes near airport, survives

By Scott Harvey

Mineola – A 65-year-old pilot survives a crash of his small plane into an East Texas pond.

The plane, flown by Johnny Hearon, of Mineola, did however strike and kill a cow in a pasture on the way down.

Tuesday's crash happened near Mineola Wisener Airport. Witnesses say Hearon tried to land twice, and on the third attempt the plane stalled. The single-engine Cessna apparently struck trees on the way down.

A spokeswoman at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler said yesterday that Hearon was in good condition.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.