The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office this morning announced the death of two people in a small plane crash that occurred in western Paulding County on Wednesday, per a release from law enforcement.
An investigation is underway following the deaths of flight instructor Sungwook Lee, 27, of a Daytona Beach, Florida address and Johnathan Lara, 27, of a Powder Springs address, who was a flight student.
Paulding deputies began searching the area after the plane – a Grumman American Aviation Corporation AA-5 fixed wing single engine aircraft – failed to return to the airport when it was supposed to land at the airport.
Deputies found the plane on Crawford Road, Rockmart, in western unincorporated Paulding County. The owner of the plane was able to track the location back to Crawford Road based on its last known location.
Lee and Lara were both found deceased inside of the plane when the aircraft was found. The plane was missing for around two hours after it took off at 10:24 a.m., and was last seen on a flight tracker under an hour later at 11:21 a.m.
“The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been in contact with the Sheriff’s Office and will be conducting the investigation as to why the plane crashed,” the Sheriff’s office noted in their release.
Anyone who might have more information about the incident can contact the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (770) 443-3047.
