“Shocked I couldn’t believe it,” Neighbors react to deadly Augusta plane crash

Barclay Bishop
·2 min read

Since this story aired, the pilot’s name has been released. He has been identified as Jason McKenzie.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A plane in crash in Augusta claimed the life of one person and put many people on edge.

Tennet Houston witnessed that crash, “Pretty shocked. I didn’t expect it!”

A quiet West Augusta neighborhood rocked Thursday morning as a single engine plane crashed in the front lawn of a home on the corner of Hillcrest Avenue and Belmont Drive.

“I went over there to see if anybody was in it or, you know, but at that point, it was too late. The plane had already exploded, was engulfed.”

Investigators tell NewsChannel 6 the pilot of this single engine aircraft took off around 7:00 Thursday morning from Daniel Field, just a flew blocks away before crashing.

Shortly after, the pilot tried to make the return back to the airport when the crash happened.

“It was definitely a miracle. Just by looking at it the pilot was experienced. Well experienced. Because otherwise he could have landed the plane, like we said, on a house, on top of a car,” remarked Catherine Smith-McKnight, the District 3 commissioner.

Commissioner Smith is one of the many homeowners in this area.

“It damaged trees and power lines and knocked out power. But he protected everybody else.”

Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden shared those same thoughts, “And we can only credit that pilot for that situation, for having the wherewithal to not involve another structure.”

An unnamed hero at this time.

But one that perhaps prevented more lives from being lost, on a day these neighbors will never forget.

The Augusta Exchange Club and First Baptist church have announced that Jason McKenzie was the pilot in that fatal crash.

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

Photojournalist Dania Alawir

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.