LUCASVILLE, Ohio — A single‑engine airplane crashed into a residence near the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport late Thursday morning, killing the pilot and destroying the home, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Troopers say the crash happened at approximately 10:46 a.m. on the south side of Bennett School House Road in Harrison Township. The aircraft, a 2006 Cirrus SR20, had just departed from the Greater Portsmouth Regional Airport and was in its initial climb when it went down.

The pilot, identified as 76‑year‑old Kurt W. Paulus of Delaware, Ohio, died at the scene.

Two people were inside the residence at the time of the crash. Both escaped without injury. The home caught fire immediately after impact and was declared a total loss.

Investigators say the aircraft was headed for Delaware, Ohio.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and will conduct separate investigations into the cause of the crash.

Multiple agencies responded, including the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office, Minford Fire Department and EMS, Columbus Division of Police, Scioto County Emergency Management Agency, the FAA, the NTSB, and The Salvation Army.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports that the investigation remains ongoing.