One person is dead after a small plane crashed in the Bass River State Forest while en route to Ocean County Airport, according to NTSB officials.

Authorities say the Ryan Navion plane had departed from Salisbury, Maryland on Saturday but failed to arrive at Ocean County Airport in New Jersey on Saturday night as scheduled. Late Sunday New Jersey State Police disclosed that William Lindley, 75, of Beachwood was the pilot.

The Navion-A is a single-engine aircraft designed in the 1940s. It's not clear whether the plane was a civilian or a vintage military aircraft. See an animated video of a Navion A plane below...

After attempts to communicate with the pilot were unsuccessful, the pilot's cellphone was tracked to the area where the plane was found. A multi-agency search began Sunday morning and a Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted the plane a few hours later.

An official with the NTSB later confirmed with NBC10 Philadelphia that the pilot of the plane died in the crash.

It's not clear if the pilot was alone in the plane.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

The New Jersey State Police and assisting personnel have located the downed aircraft and secured the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have arrived at the crash site and will take over the investigation. All media inquiries should be directed to the NTSB.

Here is Sunday's final update on the crash from the New Jersey State Police...

New Jersey State Police Respond to Possible Downed Aircraft

Washington Twp., Burlington County - At approximately 10:56 a.m.,the New Jersey State Police recieved a call of a possible downed aircraft at the Bass River State Forest. Troopers from Tuckerton Station immediately responded to the area to conduct a search.

The two passenger aircraft departed Salisbury, Maryland yesterday enroute to Ocean County Airport. The plane did not arrive as scheduled last night and attempts to communicate with the pilot were unsuccessful. The pilot's cellphone was tracked and Tuckerton Station personnel were advised of the possible location of the plane.

The New Jersey State Police Aviation and Urban Search and Rescue Units are searching the area.

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