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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

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With his engine failing and his cockpit smoked out, a state parks pilot worried he might hit a downtown Austin building and dismissed a suggestion from Air Traffic Control to land on I-35, per documents Axios obtained through an open records request.

Why it matters: The harrowing revelations underscore the near misses that could have led to a much deadlier and more calamitous outcome before the pilot — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden Dwayne Havis — managed to coolly crash the plane into Lady Bird Lake in June.

Details: Shortly after a 1pm takeoff in a TPWD Cessna from Austin-Bergstrom for a routine flight to nearby Cedar Park, Havis noticed smoke in the cockpit — and a burning smell.

Within a few minutes, the smoke "got very thick and very black," per Havis' incident report.

What they're saying: "I leaned forward into the very heavy black smoke, as close as I could get to the gauges," Havis wrote, "and was able to note the cylinder head temperature and oil temperature gauges were fully to the redline. My oil pressure gauge was fluctuating, bouncing rapidly back and forth."

"Air traffic control gave me a low altitude alert and said I was at 1300 feet, and asked me if I could increase my altitude. I added throttle and then heard a couple of thuds and the engine did not respond at all to my throttle commands. I determined the engine had quit completely and was unresponsive."

Of note: Italics not in the original document.

It gets worse: "I told air traffic control I had zero engine. I started switching fuel tanks and adjusting the mixture, in hopes that the engine would restart, but that did not restart the engine. I could not see anything out the front and right side of the airplane, and was afraid I was going to hit a building."     

Avoiding the highway: "When I advised air traffic control that I had zero engine, they pointed out Interstate 35 off to my left. I could see it out the left side window only, as I still had no visibility out the front or out the right side of the airplane, as the heavy black smoke kept pouring into the cockpit."

"Interstate 35 was completely full of cars and I knew an emergency landing there would not be safe and would likely have resulting casualties." 

Headed for the water: "With my limited visibility, I was trying to determine a suitable place to put down the airplane that would not harm myself or others when I caught a glimpse of water (that turned out to be Lady Bird Lake) out my left side window. I then told air traffic control I was going for the water."

"Air traffic control asked if I could start climbing and I responded that I was going to hit the water."

That was close: "As I was turning toward the water, I saw a bridge on Interstate 35 and made an attempt to pass over the bridge safely, so I pulled back slightly on the yoke in hopes the airplane would rise slightly. I noted a light pole passing by my left side window and realized I had cleared the bridge."

Between the lines: "During emergencies, air traffic controllers work with pilots to help them find safe places to land," Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Steve Kulm tells Axios. "The decision on where to land is ultimately up to the pilot in command."

A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board, which is in charge of the accident investigation, declined to comment. An NTSB preliminary report noted the plane was recovered from the lake and retained for further examination.

The state parks department declined to make Havis available for an Axios interview because the investigation remains open. A department spokesperson said the department "can't confirm the official underlying cause" of the engine failure until the NTSB issues its final report. 

What happened next: After impact, water immediately filled the cockpit. 

While under water, Havis required three tries to release his four-point harness before swimming to the surface.

After Havis got aboard the tail fuselage, a paddleboarder rescued him.

He was transported to Dell Seton Medical Center and discharged without medication at 8:15pm, per his report.

Air traffic control suggested Austin pilot ditch on interstate

"Interstate 35 was completely full of cars and I knew an emergency landing there would not be safe."

A screenshot of the Cessna shortly after it crashed, via drone footage from Austin-Travis County EMS

With his engine failing and his cockpit smoked out, a state parks pilot worried he might hit a downtown Austin building and dismissed a suggestion from Air Traffic Control to land on I-35, per documents Axios obtained through an open records request.Why it matters: The harrowing revelations underscore the near misses that could have led to a much deadlier and more calamitous outcome before the pilot — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden Dwayne Havis — managed to coolly crash the plane into <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lady Bird Lake" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/apd-paddle-boarders-rescue-pilot-after-plane-crashes-into-lady-bird-lake/" data-vars-content-id="187b6759-9410-447b-a4ad-46bd828f90d9" data-vars-headline="Air traffic control suggested Austin pilot ditch on interstate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/apd-paddle-boarders-rescue-pilot-after-plane-crashes-into-lady-bird-lake/" target="_blank">Lady Bird Lake</a> in June.

News

A Travis County jury has ordered Austin-based Infowars broadcaster Alex Jones to pay $4.1 million to the parents of a child killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

The big picture: Jones had repeatedly lied that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax and has already been found liable in defamation cases brought by families of the victims.

Why it matters: It's the first time Jones has been held financially liable for falsely calling the mass shooting, which killed 20 children and six educators, a hoax.

The bottom line: The award, approved by 10 of 12 jurors, is far below the $150 million sought by the parents of Sandy Hook victim Jesse Lewis.

 Of note: Jurors will reconvene Friday to hear testimony on Jones' net worth — and determine how much more in punitive damages Jones owes.

Alex Jones ordered to pay $4.1 million in defamation damages

Jones had repeatedly lied that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax.

Alex Jones outside the Travis County Courthouse

Alex Jones outside the Travis County Courthouse on Wednesday. Photo: Asher Price/Axios

A Travis County jury has ordered Austin-based <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Infowars broadcaster Alex Jones" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/03/alex-jones-sandy-hook-trial-bankruptcy" data-vars-content-id="3ea3510a-05c2-4f5d-9975-aadeb32a5d81" data-vars-headline="Alex Jones ordered to pay $4.1 million in defamation damages" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/08/03/alex-jones-sandy-hook-trial-bankruptcy" target="_self">Infowars broadcaster Alex Jones</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="to pay $4.1 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/alex-jones-trial-jury-deliberations-underway-in-sandy-hook-case/65391779007/" data-vars-content-id="3ea3510a-05c2-4f5d-9975-aadeb32a5d81" data-vars-headline="Alex Jones ordered to pay $4.1 million in defamation damages" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2022/08/04/alex-jones-trial-jury-deliberations-underway-in-sandy-hook-case/65391779007/" target="_blank">to pay $4.1 million</a> to the parents of a child killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.The big picture: Jones had repeatedly lied that the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax and has already been found liable in defamation cases brought by families of the victims.

A huge win in Kansas this week for abortion rights supporters energized Democrats — and raised questions about whether such a referendum could pass in Texas.

The short answer: Yes, Texas voters might very well support a constitutional right to abortion — but there's no way in hell they'll get to weigh in.

Driving the news: In Kansas, the Democratic-controlled state supreme court recognized the right to abortion, prompting the Republican-controlled legislature to ask voters to effectively veto that decision.

But voters instead supported keeping that right protected, giving hope to progressives after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Between the lines: In Texas, the elected, all-Republican state supreme court will never go that route — so the GOP-controlled legislature, which has ratcheted down abortion access, will not have to resort to an appeal to voters. 

Amendments to the Texas Constitution can be put before voters only after being approved by two-thirds of each body of the legislature, Texas Secretary of State spokesperson Sam Taylor tells Axios. 

Of note: Texas lawmakers could decide to put a constitutional amendment banning abortion before voters — but such a maneuver could backfire.

A majority of Texas voters — 54% — oppose a total ban on abortions, per polling earlier this year from the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas.

What they're saying: State Rep. Donna Howard, a nurse and Austin Democrat, said the Kansas vote was an encouraging sign for pro-abortion-rights voters in red states like Texas.

"We can certainly at least infer that voters are not wanting to have this kind of overreach from the government," Howard told Axios.

She added that the true test could come from statewide races: "There is a lot of potential here if we have a way to make sure that message is still getting out to folks on a regular basis."

Dallas

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Dallas. Written by Michael Mooney and Tasha Tsiperas.

Axios Dallas

Axios Dallas Thought Bubble

Dallas Alerts

Why Texas won't have an abortion referendum like Kansas

Texas voters might very well support a constitutional right to abortion — but there's no way they'll get to weigh in.

An abortion rights protester holds up a placard in Austin.

Demonstrators rally against anti-abortion and voter-suppression laws at the Texas State Capitol in October in Austin. Photo: Montinique Monroe/Getty Images

A huge win in Kansas this week for abortion rights supporters energized Democrats — and raised questions about whether such a referendum could pass in Texas.The short answer: Yes, Texas voters might very well support a constitutional right to abortion — but there&#x27;s no way in hell they&#x27;ll get to weigh in.

Nonstop flights from Austin to Asia could be around the corner. 

The big picture: Regional investments by South Korean chip manufacturers plus a steroidally-fast-growing airport spell potential direct service from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Seoul or Tokyo. 

What they're saying: "Asia makes sense," Matt Geske, vice president of regional and local policy for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce told the Austin Business Journal. "We have identified target areas for service and now we are looking to Asia."

The chamber has been pressing for nonstop flights to Asia since before the pandemic.

The crystal ball: Geske told the Journal a direct flight to Asia could be announced in 2023 or 2024.

Yes, but: "We regularly meet with airlines and are always working to attract new service," Austin airport spokesperson Sam Haynes tells Axios. "We don't have any news to share about nonstop flights to Asia at this time."  

What's next: The city's airport expansion program aims to add a second concourse with at least 10 gates by the end of this decade — at a cost of at least $3.5 billion.

Total ABIA passenger traffic for June 2022 was 1,985,801, up 45% compared to June 2021.

The bottom line: With nonstop service now to Frankfurt, Amsterdam and London, the appetite among airport executives and business leaders for international service appears bottomless, as they try to attract more tourists and corporate investment. 

Nonstop flights from Austin to Asia could be on the horizon

Could Korean Air flights soon make an appearance at Austin's airport? Photo: Robert Alexander/Getty Images

Nonstop flights from Austin to Asia could be around the corner. The big picture: Regional investments by South Korean chip manufacturers plus a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="steroidally-fast-growing airport" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/06/16/austin-city-council-south-terminal-airport" data-vars-content-id="9c1f85aa-7f89-41da-97fb-8ab027bcdc4f" data-vars-headline="Nonstop flights from Austin to Asia could be on the horizon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2022/06/16/austin-city-council-south-terminal-airport" target="_self">steroidally-fast-growing airport</a> spell potential direct service from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Seoul or Tokyo.

Business

Austin saw its hottest July ever recorded, according to National Weather Service officials.

The average temperature at Camp Mabry, in West Austin, was more than 90.5 degrees in July. 

The previous record for the month was struck in 2011, when the July average hit 89.7 degrees.

Why it matters: July's heat wave follows a record-breaking May and June ... and there's no reason to think August and September won't be scorching as well. 

Lakes Travis and Buchanan, the chief reservoirs for Central Texas, now sit at 58% full.

Camp Mabry recorded no measurable rain last month — only the fourth time on record that Austin didn’t receive measurable rain in July, per the National Weather Service.

A July without measurable rain in West Austin

Animated illustration of a spigot with droplets of water falling.

Austin saw its hottest July ever recorded, according to National Weather Service officials.<ul><li>The average temperature at Camp Mabry, in West Austin, was more than 90.5 degrees in July. </li><li>The previous record for the month was struck in 2011, when the July average hit 89.7 degrees.</li></ul>Why it matters: July&#x27;s heat wave follows a record-breaking May and June ... and there&#x27;s no reason to think August and September won&#x27;t be scorching as well. <ul><li>Lakes Travis and Buchanan, the chief reservoirs for Central Texas, now sit at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="58% full" data-vars-click-url="https://hydromet.lcra.org/riverreport/" data-vars-content-id="c438c754-8808-471d-b55e-5ded5127b380" data-vars-headline="A July without measurable rain in West Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://hydromet.lcra.org/riverreport/" target="_blank">58% full</a>.</li></ul>Camp Mabry recorded no measurable rain last month — only the fourth time on record that Austin didn’t receive measurable rain in July, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per the National Weather Service" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/NWSSanAntonio/status/1552104442979405824" data-vars-content-id="c438c754-8808-471d-b55e-5ded5127b380" data-vars-headline="A July without measurable rain in West Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/NWSSanAntonio/status/1552104442979405824" target="_blank">per the National Weather Service</a>.

Asher Price

Featured stories

Why Texas won't have an abortion referendum like Kansas

Alex Jones ordered to pay $4.1 million in defamation damages

Nonstop flights from Austin to Asia could be on the horizon

Air traffic control suggested Austin pilot ditch on interstate

A July without measurable rain in West Austin