Plane crash survivors recall harrowing experience

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two Clear Lake-area men are rescued from the Gulf of Mexico after a plane crash. Now, they're telling us what that unimaginable experience was like for them.

As investigators try to figure what caused the crash, the two men are sharing their stories.

The pilot and his passenger left the Baytown airport around 1:15pm Thursday, and there was a time they thought they'd never make it back. But they remained calm and the Coast Guard says they were well prepared.

"I had an airplane that the landing gear wouldn't come down on, I've had a radio that gave a little bit of smoke. I've had instruments that failed," Pilot TR Wright said.

Wright can quickly rattle off all of his difficulties in the cockpit, but none come close to what he faced Thursday afternoon.

"We made it to the halfway point and there was smoke in the cockpit, which as a pilot, that's your worst nightmare," he said.

Wright and his friend were flying from Baytown to Sarasota, Florida when about 30 miles off the tip of Louisiana and over the Gulf of Mexico there was trouble.

"I could see flames back there and now we were in trouble so I chopped the power on both engines, pointed the airplane straight for the water," he said.

Wright crash landed the Beechcraft 55 Baron. It wasn't a smooth landing

"We kind of hit, bounced and then the second time we came down, the water just grabbed you," he said.

They were alive. The two grabbed survival supplies, flotation devices and for three hours waited for the Coast Guard to find them. Just before sunset, reality started to sink in.

"I said we have about 25 more minutes of day light. If they find us in 20 minutes, we're going home tonight. If not, we're staying the night our here," Wright said.

Customs and Border Protection soon spotted the two, and the Coast Guard hoisted them from the ocean.

"I started thinking we're going to be able to have dinner tonight and I don't know if I'm going to get the T-bone or the rib eye," Wright said.

Wright's passenger Raymond Fosdick declined another plane ride Friday. Instead, we talked to him during a 24-hour bus ride.

"I think it was just good to stay on dry ground for the next couple of days," Fosdick said.

Wright though, an 11-year pilot, plans to get back up soon.

Both are incredibly grateful to their rescuers and perhaps also to someone or something else.

"In those situations, you kind of wonder maybe you have a little extra help so I guess I'll leave there," Wright said.

The plane quickly sunk to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, which is problematic for a number of reasons but especially because Wright uses that aircraft for his non-profit organization that offers free rides for children with cancer. He's now looking for a replacement for upcoming events.

By the way, Wright and Fosdick ate pizza that was provided by the Coast Guard.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, jessica willey

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Teammates, coaches recall new 'Live' co-host Michael Strahan's days at TSU

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There's a new face on morning TV after Kelly Ripa introduced her new co-host on 'Live' Tuesday morning. Houston native and former New York Giants football star Michael Strahan joined 'Live with Kelly and Michael.' It was not a really big surprise since the news leaked last week. Strahan said he's humbled and excited.

"You know how you say it's a dream come true, I truly can't say that because I didn't know I could even dream this," Strahan said on the show.

Strahan is a Houston native who spent most of his childhood on an Army base in Germany. For his senior year in high school he came back to Houston and played at Westbury High School, before starring for Texas Southern University.

But the lights, camera and action are quite different from Strahan's time spent on the football field during his senior year at Westbury High in 1988, and far from his days at TSU where he graduated back in 1993. Former teammates and staff call him a great athlete who, back then, was quiet.

"He'd be to himself," said former teammate Johnny Burrell.

"But he was the perfect sponge because he would absorb everything," said John Harvey, TSU athletic trainer.

But Strahan still had the same smile.

"That's kind of the way he would do it," Harvey said, with a big laugh.

Strahan's college coach and former Houston Oiler, Walter Highsmith, remembers how football was his focus.

"He only talked around people he knew. Like I said he was all about playing ball," Highsmith said.

He's still getting used to the television world.

"That's a new Michael that's on TV," said Highsmith.

His former coach and trainer had never seen this side of Strahan, so we decided to show them a few clips.

"He has broken out of his shell," Highsmith said.

And broken out of his pants in one segment.

"Michael, please don't show your tools to a national audience," said Harvey.

They've kept in contact with Strahan over the years, and as always, with this new role they wish him the best.

"You have shown us and really made us proud and I know you will continue to do that," Harvey said.

"That's a big role and I believe, and you know one thing about it, he will be the best at it," said Highsmith.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, samica knight

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