FORT WORTH, Texas — Federal investigators are trying to determine why a single-engine plane Monday crashed into Eagle Mountain Lake.
The plane's pilot is dead, a Tarrant Regional Water District spokesperson confirmed. It's not yet clear whether the man died before or during the crash, but the spokesperson said he was alone in the plane.
Divers spent hours Monday trying to free the man's body from the debris. The Tarrant County Medical Examine later identified the man as Stephen Spence, 60.
The crash happened around 12:40 p.m. Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Aircraft registration documents indicate the plane is a 59-year-old Champion 7EC, a single-engine plane with space for a pilot and one passenger. A small portion of the red and white plane protruded from the water and was visible from Eagle Mountain Lake's shores.
Investigators have not yet said where the plane took off or identified its destination.
Neighbors tell WFAA small planes frequently fly over Eagle Mountain Lake, which is surrounded by small airstrips and in proximity to DFW Airport and Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.
The Fort Worth Police Department, the Fort Worth Fire Department, the Tarrant Regional Water District, the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department, and Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens responded to the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating the crash and will release a preliminary report in the coming days.
This is a developing story, please check back for details.