PITTSFORD, Vt. (WVNY/WFFF) – Vermont State Police say they’ve found a heavily damaged small plane and that the pilot is dead.

Vermont State Police say Norman Banker, 89, of Windsor, Mass. crashed his plane and died on Wednesday evening near Whistle Stop Lane in Pittsford, Vermont.

According to police, the call came in around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday from Massachusetts State Police that a plane headed to Middlebury, Vermont was overdue. Earlier in the day, State Police said the Pittsford Police Department received a report of a small aircraft flying low. Police say the caller indicated they heard a loud noise, but did not see the plane crash or any sign of wreckage.

Police say the plane, a 1966 Cessna Skyhop was found by a landowner when they were walking along their property on Thursday at 11:26 a.m. Search and Rescue from Pittsford, Brandon, Chittenden along with the Vermont National Guard Assisted with the search.

Authorities say the plane was heavily damaged, it is unknown why it crashed. A media release states that Banker was headed to Middlebury for Thanksgiving.

Banker has been interested in flying since he was a teen.