BENTON COUNTY, Ind. — Deputies in Benton County confirm they are investigating a deadly crash involving an aircraft Monday evening.
According to a post on the sheriff's department's Facebook page, the crash happened around 6:40 p.m. July 22 near County Road 200 East, southwest of Oxford, Indiana, which is 20 miles west of Lafayette.
When first responders arrived, they found a yellow fixed wing crop duster upside down in a bean field and on fire.
Benton County Sheriff John Cox said the male pilot died in the single-engine airplane crash.
The Benton County Coroner's Office identified the deceased as 35-year-old Robert Ray Cottingham, of Otterbein, Indiana.
The airplane was owned and operated by Bi-State Air.
Officials from the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have been called to the scene.
There is currently a "No Fly" order over the crash site through the Purdue University Airport.
County Road 200 East was closed between County Roads 700 South and 800 South, deputies said.
The Indiana State Police, Fowler Police Department, Otterbein Police Department, Benton County EMA, Benton County EMS, Oxford Fire Department, Fowler Fire Department, Boswell Fire Department and Farney’s Towing and Recovery also assisted in the investigation.