AVOCA, Pa. (1010 WINS) -- A pilot for a Long Island-based team preparing for a Pennsylvania air show has died following a crash Friday afternoon, officials confirmed.
The crash at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport occurred around 12:35 p.m., authorities said. The pilot, whose name was not released, was the only person on board, according to Jacob Schmitt, a supervisor at Luzerne County 911.
The pilot was part of the GEICO Skytypers Air Show Team, a squadron of six vintage WWII aircrafts that is based on Long Island, according to the team's website, which appeared to be offline Friday afternoon.
The plane was taking off at the time of the crash, officials said.
The plane was heading northbound when it suddenly veered to the left "for reasons unknown," crashed into the grass and caught fire, said the airport director, Carl Beardsley.
The T-6 Texan plane was scheduled to perform Saturday at the Great Pocono Raceway Airshow.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it’s investigating the crash.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.