MISSISSIPPI — A pilot was killed Sunday afternoon when a small private aircraft crashed in eastern Lowndes County, according to local authorities.
Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said the pilot, who was the only person aboard the aircraft, was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has not yet been identified.
The crash occurred around 1 p.m. on private property off Cole Road near the Mississippi-Alabama state line.
Authorities said the aircraft was heavily damaged by fire, making it difficult to identify through its tail number. Investigators have not determined where the plane originated or where it was headed.
Officials with both the Columbus-Lowndes Airport and the George M. Bryan Airport in Starkville said they could not confirm whether the aircraft had departed from either facility.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to arrive Monday to investigate the cause of the crash.
Sheriff Hawkins said portions of Cole Road will remain closed until the wreckage is removed and investigators complete their work at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
