A small aircraft crashed Sunday morning in a Wesley Chapel neighborhood in Pasco County, Florida, killing the lone passenger on board and igniting a fire that damaged a nearby home, according to local officials and federal authorities.

The aircraft, identified as a Cessna, had departed from Tampa North Aero Park earlier in the morning before going down at approximately 8:35 a.m. under circumstances that remain unclear. Authorities confirmed the pilot was the only occupant and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pasco County public information officer Sarah Andeara said the impact sparked a fire in the yard of a residence, causing damage to the property. Emergency crews responded and extinguished the flames by around 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Video captured by a nearby security camera showed a plume of smoke rising shortly after the crash, underscoring the severity of the impact in the otherwise quiet residential area.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. An NTSB investigator was dispatched to the scene and will begin documenting evidence and examining the wreckage, which will later be moved to a secure facility for further analysis.

Officials said they will not speculate on the cause of the crash during the early stages of the probe. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, though a full investigation could take significantly longer.

Local authorities are responsible for formally identifying the victim and notifying next of kin.

A nearby resident, Christina Galbiati, told local media she observed the plane flying normally before it descended toward a neighbor’s yard. She described the moment as sudden and alarming, with her children reacting in fear as the incident unfolded.