ROCK HILL, S.C. — Authorities are investigating after the pilot of a small plane was killed in a crash near Rock Hill earlier Friday evening.
A news release from the City of Rock Hill confirmed it happened around 7:30 p.m. The city government said the plane crashed down behind the American Legion Post on Heckle Boulevard. Both police officers and firefighters responded to the scene.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the plane was circling the Rock Hill area for some time before it came down.
The York Counter Coroner's Office confirmed Robert Prestininzi, 43, died as a result of the crash. He was a resident of Fort Mill, the office said.
The city government referred further questions to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB.
WCNC Charlotte reached out to both federal agencies for more information and heard back from the FAA within minutes. According to their preliminary release, the pilot of a twin-engine Piper PA-30 was the only person on board at the time. The plane was bound for the Rock Hill Airport from LaGrange-Callaway Airport in Georgia. However, the pilot's condition was not immediately clear.
The NTSB will take charge of the investigation and provide updates.