Six from Houston, including philanthropist pilot, killed in Kerrville plane crash

Jeffrey Weiss with his airplane. Jeffrey Weiss with his airplane. Photo: Courtesy Of FlightAware Photo: Courtesy Of FlightAware Image 1 of / 44 Caption Close Six from Houston, including philanthropist pilot, killed in Kerrville plane crash 1 / 44 Back to Gallery

A Houston philanthropist and businessman was piloting the doomed flight from Katy that crashed Monday morning in the Hill Country, killing all six people on board.

The Beechcraft BE58 aircraft piloted by 65-year-old Jeffrey Weiss plunged into rugged ranchland about 70 miles northwest of San Antonio around 8:50 a.m., according to authorities. The plane was registered to Weiss, according to FAA records.

The plane took off from the privately-owned West Houston Airport in Katy around 7:30 a.m. and crashed about 10 miles from its destination at the Kerrville Municipal Airport, FAA officials said. The plane was scheduled to land at 8:35 a.m. but never arrived.

SPUTTERING: Witnesses recount the final moments of the doomed flight, only on HoustonChronicle.com

The five other passengers — all from Houston — were identified late Monday as Stuart Roben Kensinger, 55; Angela Webb Kensinger, 54; Mark Damien Scioneaux, 58; Scott Reagan Miller, 55; and Marc Tellepsen, 45, Texas Department of Public Safety officials said.

The owner of the plane had 42 years of piloting experience and often volunteered to fly rural patients to medical appointments for Angel Flight South Central, according to Weiss' biography posted to the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society's website. He was also a benefactor to the 1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport.

A spokeswoman for Weiss' employer, the investment firm Raymond James, declined to comment before the names were released by authorities..

Robert Hurt, a former pilot who lives near Kerrville, heard about the crash over the radio and went to the location to try and get information on what happened. He grew emotional as he spoke to reporters about the crash.

"It gets close," he said. "They could be friends or relatives."

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

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