A privately owned Pipistrel Sinus 912 aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances Sunday afternoon near Columbus-Lowndes County Airport in Mississippi, claiming the life of the pilot onboard.
The light aircraft went down near the Alabama-Mississippi state line along Highway 82 on Cole Road while reportedly approaching the airport. Authorities later identified the deceased pilot as Emmett Barry Sanford, a well-known Columbus businessman.
Officials confirmed the aircraft was neither commercial nor military. The FAA, NTSB, and Homeland Security have launched an investigation to determine what caused the fatal crash.
The aircraft was completely destroyed in the impact, and no other injuries were reported.