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Andrew Joseph Stack suspected in Austin plane crash

A blaze is ignited as a plane hit a seven-story building in the Texas capital. A purported suicide note has been found and is attributed to the man believed to have been the pilot.

The fuselage for the single-engine plane sits at the base of the Echelon Building in Austin. At least 13 people were injured Thursday, with two reported in critical condition.

Feb. 18

The fuselage for the single-engine plane sits at the base of the Echelon Building in Austin. At least 13 people were injured Thursday, with two reported in critical condition.

Nuri Vallbona for The Washington Post

An FBI agent walks near the remains of a plane that hit a building that held offices for the Internal Revenue Service.

Feb. 18

An FBI agent walks near the remains of a plane that hit a building that held offices for the Internal Revenue Service.

Nuri Vallbona for The Washington Post

A firefighter climbs a ladder to peer at the wreckage. Workers from the building reported burns and smoke inhalation.

Feb. 18

A firefighter climbs a ladder to peer at the wreckage. Workers from the building reported burns and smoke inhalation.

Nuri Vallbona for The Washington Post

An aerial view shows smoke billowing from the building. The pilot crashed shortly after take-off from an airport in nearby Georgetown, Tex.

Feb. 18

An aerial view shows smoke billowing from the building. The pilot crashed shortly after take-off from an airport in nearby Georgetown, Tex.

Alberto Martinez-AP

Immeidately after the plane crash, at least two people were rushed to the hospital with unspecified injuries.

Feb. 18

Immeidately after the plane crash, at least two people were rushed to the hospital with unspecified injuries.

Harry Cabluck-AP

Fire crews used ladder trucks to battle the blaze. A federal official identified the pilot as Andrew Joseph Stack.

Feb. 18

Fire crews used ladder trucks to battle the blaze. A federal official identified the pilot as Andrew Joseph Stack.

Trey Jones-AP

Motorists stopped to take in the scene where the plane struck. The privately owned office building had one federal tenant: the IRS.

Feb. 18

Motorists stopped to take in the scene where the plane struck. The privately owned office building had one federal tenant: the IRS.

Trey Jones-AP

Witnesses say the plane came in fast and low, apparently making no efforts to avoid the office building. Investigators are looking into whether additional accelerants were on board.

Feb. 18

Witnesses say the plane came in fast and low, apparently making no efforts to avoid the office building. Investigators are looking into whether additional accelerants were on board.

Alberto Martinez-AP

Officials investigate the wreckage. "This is an isolated incident," the Austin police chief said Thursday afternoon. "There is no cause for alarm."

Feb. 18

Officials investigate the wreckage. "This is an isolated incident," the Austin police chief said Thursday afternoon. "There is no cause for alarm."

Rodolfo Gonzalez-AP

With debris littering the grounds, officials are zeroing in on the pilot. A purported suicide note made reference to financial failures and run-ins with the IRS.

Feb. 18

With debris littering the grounds, officials are zeroing in on the pilot. A purported suicide note made reference to financial failures and run-ins with the IRS.

Rodolfo Gonzalez-AP

FBI personnel speak with people near the crash site. One witness said the plane had not been heading for the building, "but all of a sudden it took a right and headed straight into it."

Feb. 18

FBI personnel speak with people near the crash site. One witness said the plane had not been heading for the building, "but all of a sudden it took a right and headed straight into it."

Ben Sklar-Reuters

Firefighters extinguish flames at an Austin house belonging to the suspected pilot. The blaze was set before the plane crashed into the building, occupied by IRS employees.

Feb. 18

Firefighters extinguish flames at an Austin house belonging to the suspected pilot. The blaze was set before the plane crashed into the building, occupied by IRS employees.

Deborah Cannon-AP

Andrew Joseph Stack III is listed as the owner of this Austin house, which was set on fire Thursday. The blaze started before the plane he was believed to be piloting took off, eventually crashing into the Echelon Building.

Feb. 18

Andrew Joseph Stack III is listed as the owner of this Austin house, which was set on fire Thursday. The blaze started before the plane he was believed to be piloting took off, eventually crashing into the Echelon Building.

Nuri Vallbona for The Washington Post

Gallery Credits:
Text Editor Doris N. Truong

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This Story Two bodies recovered at crash site inside Tex. IRS building Article \| A pilot on Thursday crashed his small plane into a building in Austin that houses Internal Revenue Service offices, igniting a huge fire that seriously injured at least two federal employees and sent dozens of others fleeing for their lives. Attacks on IRS and workers are all too common Raw video: Towering flames after plane hits IRS in Texas Andrew Joseph Stack suspected in Austin plane crash		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Reprints		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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