A pilot found dead Sunday morning after crashing a plane in west central Indiana near downstate Danville has been identified.
68-year-old George P. Irick Jr. was identified as the pilot by authorities. The Congerville-native was flying to Peoria when his plane went down near West Lebanon, according to Indiana State Police.
Irick was the only person in the plane at the time of the crash, which occurred around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night.
Volunteers, police, and fire officials searched for the plane for six hours, but suspended the search due to rough terrain near the crash site.
A state police helicopter located the plane around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday morning near County Road 450 South and County Road 400 West, according to police.
Once the plane was located on foot, the pilot was discovered dead in the cockpit, according to officials.
The FAA is currently investigating the cause of the crash, and the NTSB will join the investigation Monday, according to Indiana state police.
