Local
Pilot killed in small plane crash near Waycross airport, coroner says
A pilot died after a Beechcraft BE35 crashed shortly after takeoff from Waycross-Ware County Airport on Saturday, according to the county coroner. The pilot operated a flight school at the airport, his wife said in a Facebook post.
WAYCROSS, Ga. â A pilot died after the small plane he was flying crashed near Waycross-Ware County Airport on Saturday, the Ware County coroner said.
The pilot, whose name has not been released pending notification of family, was the only person on board, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Beechcraft BE35, a single-engine plane with four seats.
The pilot's wife said in a Facebook post that her husband of 23 years was an experienced pilot who ran a flight school at the airport. She thanked friends and community members for their outpouring of support.
The crash occurred shortly after takeoff, according to the Waycross Journal-Herald, which also reported that the airport's main terminal was closed on Friday.
Officials have released few additional details. The NTSB said Friday it is investigating the crash, and the FAA is also involved. The cause has not been determined.
The crash has shaken the small southeast Georgia community, where the airport serves as a regional hub for general aviation and flight training. The pilot's flight school was based at the airport, according to his wife's post.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the NTSB.