MONTICELLO, Iowa (KCRG) – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported a plane crash near Monticello, Monday. According to the the report, at around 2:49 p.m. Monday, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a plane crash in a field south of Monticello. According to the NTSB, the crash involved a 1950’s-era North American T-28B Trojan, registered to East Iowa Air, Inc.

Another plane located the crash in a soybean field. The plane circled the area to alert first responders of the crash location. First responders located the crash shortly after. The pilot, identified as James Rohlf, died as a result of the crash. Rohlf was a member of Trojan Thunder – a team of pilots that perform in air shows all across the country. He was also a flight instructor and was the founder of his own nonprofit called the Aviation Heritage Foundation.

(Photo credit: https://www.warbirdsflyhere.com/t-28d)

After further investigation, authorities say the plane reported engine trouble shortly after leaving the Monticello Regional Airport and was returning to the airport. The pilot reported they were going down in a beanfield a minute later.