A 66-year-old man was killed Wednesday afternoon when he crashed his plane near Sterling Municipal Airport, according to authorities.

Steven M. Staudaher, of Sterling, was the owner and pilot of the single-engine Cessna that came crashing down into the woods behind the airport at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Staudaher, the plane’s sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Local authorities said Staudaher, a pilot with about two decades of experience, apparently skimmed some trees at the end of the runway, and his plane crashed into a swampy area.

Local police and emergency officials will continue the investigation, which is being overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB investigators will attempt to determine the circumstances around the crash to pinpoint a specific cause.

The NTSB website, where reports are posted and available to the public, did not display preliminary findings as of Thursday evening.

Authorities said the plane crashed down into an area that was very difficult for emergency responders to access. The plane also remained in place for an extended period of time as investigators worked on the scene.

The Sterling Airport is a privately owned, 100-acre facility in Worcester County. It is open to public use.

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