An early morning airplane crash near McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport claimed the life of the pilot, according to reports from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

The single engine, six passenger plane crashed at approximately 2:30 a.m., Friday, at 36 Womack Lane in the Huntersville community, less than two miles from the Sheriff’s Department.

The pilot was the only person on the plane.

“We had a construction crew working at the airport, and when the lights came on, they got off the runway, but they never saw or heard anthing,” said Steve Smith, executive director at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, “The lighting is pilot controlled.”