07/17/2008

Associated Press

The pilot of a small plane has died in a crash while landing at the Central Oregon resort town of Sunriver.

Sunriver police late Wednesday identified the pilot as Douglas John Sharratt of Bakersfield, Calif. No one else was on board.

The plane was registered to ProSoft Technology of Bakersfield, which makes automation equipment. A Web search indicates that Sharratt had been the firm's president, but that could not be immediately confirmed by company headquarters after hours.

Officials said the Cessna 441 twin-engine turboprop burst into flames after crashing at the Sunriver Airport shortly after 10 a.m.

Witness Owen Shirley told KTVZ-TV that it looked like the plane hit the runway once and lost control.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.