A pilot is dead after his small plane crashed and burned in a canyon near the airport in the community of San Manuel.
Pinal County sheriff's officials say the pilot was the only person aboard the home-built single-engine Mustang II FB when it went down about 9:15 a.m. Thursday east of Oracle.
They said the man, 70, was from Oracle and his name was being withheld until his family is notified.
Authorities said the pilot radioed he was having oil-pressure problems and was returning to the San Manuel Airport about 45 miles northeast of Tucson.
Witnesses said the plane went into a spin and caught fire after crashing two miles from the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
Please Wait…