One person was killed Wednesday evening when a small plane crashed near Athens-Ben Epps Airport, authorities said.
The single-engine Piper PA-24 crashed shortly before 7 p.m. near the county-owned airport in east Athens, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot, who was the only person on board, reported engine problems just before the plane went down.
Police assisted the county’s fire and emergency services department at the scene, Athens-Clarke County police Lt. Shaun Barnett said.
The Athens Banner-Herald reported that Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson said the flight originated from a location in North Carolina.
Authorities have not identified the pilot. Wilson said the pilot listed on the flight plan lived in Texas, according to the Banner-Herald.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the deadly crash, federal officials said.
— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.
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