A small plane went down in Paulding County Wednesday, killing both people onboard. The crash occurred near Crawford Road.
The Details: Emergency responders arrived after receiving a report of a potential plane crash. The downed aircraft, identified as a 1974 Grumman American Aviation Corporation AA-5, was found nose-first in a heavily wooded area. Authorities began searching the area after the plane’s owner reported it missing around 1:43 PM, noting that it had not returned as scheduled. The owner was able to track the aircraft’s last known position to the Crawford Road area, leading responders to the scene.
When authorities located the wreckage, they found the two occupants inside the plane had died in the crash. The victims were identified as 27-year-old flight instructor Sungwook Lee from Daytona Beach, Florida, and 27-year-old flight student Johnathan Lara of Powder Springs.
Flight records show that the plane departed Paulding County Airport at 10:24 a.m., and its last known location was recorded at 11:21 a.m. over Crawford Road.
Investigation Underway: The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Local detectives are assisting and have requested that anyone with information about the incident contact the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at (770) 443-3047.