Small plane crashes northeast of Denver, killing pilot

DENVER – An investigation is underway after a small plane crashed northeast of Denver, killing the pilot.

The Denver Post reports witnesses heard the engine of the Titan Mustang T-51 aircraft stall a few minutes after it took off from the Van Aire Airport in Brighton on Wednesday afternoon. The plane then spiraled into a nearby field.

Sgt. Adam Sherman, a spokesman for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, said it appears the pilot was the only fatality. Investigators have not released the victim’s name or age.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the probe into the crash. The Mustang is a replica of the P-51 planes flown during World War II and is often featured at air shows.