RINGGOLD, Va. – Investigators say the pilot of a small plane died when the aircraft crashed off the Milton Highway Tuesday afternoon. The plane went down in a wooded area in the vicinity of the Danville Fairgrounds in Pittsylvania County.

The pilot’s name has not been released and it is believed he was the only person on board the Cessna 310.

Authorities have said that the plane crashed while performing aerial surveying after leaving Danville Regional Airport around 10 a.m. Around 2:01 p.m., aircraft monitoring lost contact with the plane.

The wreckage was located by a Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s deputy. The department assisted, along with Virginia State Police officers, who will perform forensics.

The pilot has not yet been identified.

Both the The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have been notified and will handle the investigation.