Plane crashes near Daniel Field in Augusta, pilot identified

UPDATE, 05/03/2024, 3:34 P.M. – According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the intersection of Hillcrest Ave at Belmont Drive is now back open.

AUGUSTA (WJBF) – One person is dead after a plane crash in a neighborhood in Augusta.

We can confirm that it happened at 2802 Hillcrest Avenue and that is was a private Beach Bonanza plane.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says a single engine plane took off from Daniel Field and was returning to the airfield when it struck a tree and crashed.

Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen confirms that one person was killed in the crash.

NewsChannel 6 has confirmed Jason McKenzie, who worked at Augusta University as an Associate Director of Philanthropy, was the pilot and victim in the crash. That news was also confirmed by First Baptist Church in Augusta, where McKenzie was a member.

Mckenzie’s plane was reportedly bound for New Haven, Connecticut when it went down in the front yard of a home at the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Belmont Drive, in the Forrest Hills neighborhood of Augusta at around 7:12 A.M. The neighborhood is heavily populated with homes. The plane hit some trees and did not hit any of the homes.

Mckenzie is confirmed to have been the only person on board that plane. And he is being credited with saving lives by not hitting homes.

FAA investigators are working to determine what went wrong aboard the plane. They say McKenzie was an experienced pilot, with about 800 hours of flying time last year. They also say there was no distress call because Daniel Field does not have a tower. They say they are not speculating on his flight path.

The NTSB says they will be here out for 24 to 36 hours before taking the plane to Griffin, Georgia to investigate.

The FAA has released the following statement:

A single-engine Beechcraft 36 crashed in a residential neighborhood in Augusta, Georgia, around 7:10 a.m. local time on Thursday, May 2. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.

Please avoid the area at this time. Officials state that the intersection of Hillcrest Ave at Belmont Dr will be closed for the next 48 hours.

First Baptist Church of Augusta is currently accepting donations for the McKenzie family. All donations can be dropped off in the FBC Preschool Building Office. For more information on donating, contact Martha Kate Hall at mkhall@fbcaugusta.org or 706-733-2236

They are accepting:

• Grocery Gift Cards
• Fast Food Gift Cards
• Restaurant Gift Cards
• DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats, etc Gift Cards

Read the entire statement from First Baptist Church of Augusta:

Dear Church,

I am writing you with a heavy heart. Earlier this morning, Jason McKenzie lost his life in a tragic plane crash near Daniel Field. In times such as these, we do well to remember a moment from Scripture. Early in the book of Job, when tragedy after tragedy had come upon Job, friends arrived at his doorstep. There were three of them and what they did was absolutely remarkable. They didn’t seek to give answers. In fact, not one of them spoke a word. For days on end, they simply sat in the silence, comforting Job in the midst of his grief. They sat in the silence because sometimes things happen that leave us at a loss for words.

Yes, sometimes things happen that go far beyond our ability to comprehend. When those moments arrive, silence is the best we can do. Like many of you, I find myself at a loss for words. A tragedy like this one will justifiably leave us all in a state of silence. While we might not have words to speak, we do have the ability to be like Job’s friends, offering our presence and our love. Jason leaves behind his wife, Stephanie, his son, Patrick, and his mother, Becky. I am asking you to pray for our friends. Share your love and generosity with them over the coming days, weeks, and months. You might not have words to say, but you have a presence to offer. I trust you will be there for the McKenzie family.

Jason was a devoted husband, father, and son. He loved his community, his work, and his church. But most of all, I know that Jason loved Jesus. He was a faithful and committed follower of Christ. His faith was the guiding principle in his life and I trust that his faith is what led him into eternity.

Jason McKenzie was my friend. We spoke on the phone almost every week and I never left a phone call with Jason where I didn’t have a smile on my face. My life is better because Jason played a role in it. Over the next few days, there will come a moment where greater words are offered. But on this day, I believe that silence is warranted and presence is required. I sit with Stephanie, Patrick, and Becky. I pray that you will do the same.

May the Grace and Peace of Christ be with us,
Will

First Baptist Church of Augusta

Count on NewsChannel 6 for more on this is a developing story.

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