A pilot died in Augusta, Georgia, Thursday shortly after taking off from the city’s Daniel Field airport when he hit a tree and crashed into a residential neighborhood.

The crash happened at around 7:10 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said. The pilot was the only person on board.

Augusta University Associate Director of Philanthropy Jason McKenzie took off in a single-engine plane from Daniel Field with plans to fly to New Haven, Connecticut, according to the Associated Press. 

Authorities did not say why the plane began to lose altitude, but Mr. McKenzie was purportedly returning to Daniel Field when he struck a tree, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook. 

Witnesses described the abnormally loud sound of the crash in progress.

“We hear planes all the time … but this time it was way louder than normal, and it got louder and louder and it just sounded like it was right outside the window. A few seconds later, you kind of heard some sort of rustling kind of crash and then a loud banging pop sound,” neighborhood resident Lisa Lewis told Augusta CBS affiliate WRDW-TV.

The plane crashed into a house’s front yard and sparked a fire, which was successfully put out by the responding Augusta Fire Department.

Officials credited Mr. McKenzie for not hitting any of the houses.

“We are very lucky and can only credit the pilot for that situation – for not involving another structure,” Augusta Fire Department Chief Antonio Burden told WRDW-TV.

Area homeowner Catherine Smith-McKnight, who represents the third district on the Augusta Commission, told Augusta ABC affiliate WJBF-TV that “it was definitely a miracle. Just by looking at it the pilot was experienced. Well experienced. Because otherwise, he could have landed the plane, like we said, on a house, on top of a car.”

In a statement, Augusta University said that “Jason McKenzie joined Augusta University in 2020 and worked in philanthropy and alumni engagement … His passion for the university and our athletics programs was unsurpassed. We are keeping Jason’s family, friends and colleagues in our thoughts and prayers,” according to the New Haven Register.

The National Transportation Safety Board is now in charge of the ongoing investigation into the crash, per the FAA.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.