Plane Crashes Into Mississippi House; Pilot Killed

News of John Tilton's death was reported by The Clarion Ledger. The airplane crashed into one home around 5 p.m. local time. The status and identities of the two other passengers on the plane were unknown and officials have yet to comment.

Tilton was the pilot of a Piper PA-32 Cherokee 6 single-engine aircraft which had engine troubles almost immediately after taking off from Hawkins Field, reports The Clarion Ledger. The plane could not return to Hawkins Field and ultimately crashed into the home Loretta and Roosevelt Jamison. Roosevelt was not home, but Loretta survived by jumping out of her window.

According to The Associated Press, Loretta Jamison only suffered minor injuries, but the Jamisons lost their home as it burned down as a result of the crash.

Emily Latham told the AP her parents, Roger and Michelle Latham, owned the plane and while Roger Latham was supposed to be on it, Emily Latham said her father decided to go hunting instead. Roger Latham is president of Superior Pallet Co., reports AP.

Bill Hankins, who lived just one block away from the crash site, said it “sounded just like a bomb went off,” reports The Clarion Ledger.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, and police, firefighters and other officials are still on the scene.