Photos Released of Plane Crash Site After Death of Former Midland Co. Sheriff

Former Midland County Sheriff Dallas Smith's body was found after a plane he was flying crashed 11 miles north of highway 158 in Glasscock County Friday.

Preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration confirms it was a single-engine Piper PA-22 which was reported missing Friday by a friend or relative.

Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter tells CBS 7 that Smith was flying the single engine plane and disappeared.

According to the FAA, the aircraft departed the MIdland Airpark Thursday with Big Spring as its destination.

"FAA investigators are on their way to the crash site, and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation," said FAA Spokesperson Lynn Lunsford.

Aircraft was sent up to search for him and late Friday the wreckage was found in Glasscock County.

Smith was Sheriff in Midland County from 1977 though 1984.

"This is a very sad thing. He brought the SO into the 20th century. He modernized it and began an era of progressiveness in the county," said one viewer on Facebook.

He also worked for the Department of Public Safety.

Glassock County Sheriff Keith Burnett told CBS 7 that Smith's body has been sent to Lubbock for an autopsy.

The aircraft's tail number is N4751Z. According to FAA data obtained by CBS7, the plane was just registered in December and its registration status is still pending.

Photos courtesy Glasscock County.