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Boy, 3, among 3 dead in Houston area glider crash

Published: June 18, 2012 Comment on this article

WALLIS, Texas (AP) — Authorities say three family members, including a 3-year-old boy, are dead after their glider crashed into a field in Southeast Texas.

photo - A tractor is driven away Monday, June 18, 2012, in Wallis, Texas, after a local landowner assisted first responders and National Transportation Safety Board investigators in removing a glider that crashed in a cotton field Sunday, killing three people including a 3-year-old boy. Authorities are trying to determine what led to the crash that happened at about 5 p.m. near the glider facility at Texas 36 and Cougar Drive Sunday evening. Deputies said Fred Blair, 68, of Wallis, and Matilda Blair, 32, and 3-year-old Andrew Blair of Houston died instantly in the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to investigate the incident, officials said. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle ,Johnny Hanson)

A tractor is driven away Monday, June 18, 2012, in Wallis, Texas, after a local landowner assisted first responders and National Transportation Safety Board investigators in removing a glider that crashed in a cotton field Sunday, killing three people including a 3-year-old boy. Authorities are trying to determine what led to the crash that happened at about 5 p.m. near the glider facility at Texas 36 and Cougar Drive Sunday evening. Deputies said Fred Blair, 68, of Wallis, and Matilda Blair, 32, and 3-year-old Andrew Blair of Houston died instantly in the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to investigate the incident, officials said. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle ,Johnny Hanson)

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The Texas Department of Public Safety says the crash happened around 5 p.m. Sunday near Wallis, about 40 miles west of Houston.

The department says 68-year-old Fred Blair of Wallis, 32-year-old Matilda Blair and 3-year-old Andrew Blair all died in the crash. Trooper Erik Burse said Monday that the Blairs are related and live in Houston.

The glider was registered to the Greater Houston Soaring Association.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the glider went into a nose dive and didn't recover almost immediately after it was released from the tow aircraft.

Investigators are trying to determine what caused the accident.