COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. – A pilot is dead after a small plane crashed near the Columbus Regional Airport Tuesday morning.

The N.C. Highway Patrol says George Howard Charteress III was flying a single-engine Beechcraft airplane from Florida to Rhode Island around 7:40 a.m. Tuesday and was attempting to land at the Columbus Regional Airport when his plane lost power and crashed 400 yards away from the runway. Charteress died as a result of the crash.

A single passenger was on board and suffered minor injuries but was able to call 911 after the crash.

The passenger has been identified as Richard Shawn.

The FAA will handle this investigation.

It has not been released at this time what is thought to have caused the crash.