Hail in Cochran County, Texas

While investigating a fatal plane crash near Lehman, broadcast media reported that a family nearby was caught in a hailstorm while in their car. The family estimated the hail was as large as ping pong balls which caused numerous dents to their vehicle after pulling off the road. NTSB personnel had not yet released the official findings of their study at the time of this publication, but preliminary evidence indicates that the severe thunderstorm contributed to the aircraft mishap which claimed the lives of all three occupants. This information is subject to change pending the results of the NTSB investigation. The value of the 1985 Piper PA-46-310P was estimated at $300K.

Following an early morning high wind gust from a decaying shower in Castro County, thunderstorms erupted across the eastern plains of New Mexico this afternoon and produced some instances of severe hail and flooding as they overspread the western South Plains. One of these storms was particularly intense while in Cochran County and may have contributed to a fatal plane mishap near Lehman. Hail as large as ping pong ball size accompanied this storm. All of these storms dissipated by late evening, but one final severe storm developed late in the overnight hours and resulted in a severe wind gust in Cochran County.