1 dead in small plane crash near Pearland Regional Airport

PEARLAND, TX (KTRK) -- The pilot of a small experimental plane is dead after it crashed nose-first at Pearland Regional Airport Wednesday evening.

The Texas Department of Public Safety identifies the pilot as Jared Baxter Ryan, 36, of Houston.

The crash happened just short of CR 127 on airport property.

One person died in a plane crash near Pearland Regional Airport

"Witnesses. basically, are telling us they saw the plane fly in the air, take an interesting turn in the air and then land in a nosedive on airport property," TX DPS Sgt. Stephen Woodard tells Eyewitness News.

Ryan was the only person on board the two-seater 1992 Wittman Tailwind. It's classified as an experimental aircraft that's popular for homebuilding.

A woman at the airport told investigators Ryan bought the plane Wednesday.

His pilot's license was issued in 2011, according to the FAA.

DPS and the Federal Aviation Administration are now investigating the crash. The cause is still unknown.