On Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023 a pilot was fatally injured when a small plane crashed in the northwest region of Arizona.

At approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a crash involving an aircraft near the Topock/Golden Shores area. The caller described thick black smoke near power lines, approximately 5 miles away.

Deputies who arrived at the site reported that the pilot, whose identity was not disclosed, was alive but severely wounded.

The pilot was taken to a medical facility in Las Vegas, where he passed away due to the severity of his wounds.

Law enforcement reported that the aircraft departed from the airport in Sun Valley-Bison-Fort Mohave. They believe the plane may have had motor issues.

The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.