A beloved father has been killed after his plane hit a tree and burst into flames feet away from homes in a wealthy Georgia neighborhood.

Jason McKenzie, 45, was the sole person aboard the aircraft when it crashed landed on Thursday morning.

The associate director of philanthropy at Augusta University took off from Daniel Field Airport bound for New Haven, Connecticut, and was returning to the airfield when his plane crashed in a fiery wreck.

First responders said his piloting skills ensured no further deaths or injuries. He is survived by his wife Stephanie and their young son.

‘I think that was a miracle,’ neighbor Lisa Lewis told WRDW. ‘I think the Lord protected everyone else.’ 

 He had taken off from Daniel Field Airport bound for New Haven, Connecticut, and was returning to the airfield when his plane crashed. Pictured: McKenzie on a previous flight

The fiery wreck crash landed in a leafy neighborhood in Augusta, Georgia, around 7.13am

McKenzie’s single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza A36 crashed at Hillcrest Avenue near Belmont Drive around 7:13 a.m. 

Flights records indicated that he only reached 625 feet in altitude before crashing half a mile from the airport. The plane skimmed a tree ripping off the left wing tip before crash landing between two homes on the leafy street, where homes routinely sell for over $1 million.

Loved ones and colleagues paid tribute to the tragic pilot, who was described as a committed Christian and diligent worker. 

‘​Jason was a devoted husband, father, and son. He loved his community, his work, and his church,’ McKenzie’s close fried Will Dyer told WRDW.

‘But most of all, I know that Jason loved Jesus. He was a faithful and committed follower of Christ. His faith was the guiding principle in his life and I trust that his faith is what led him into eternity.’

‘His passion for the university and our athletics programs was unsurpassed. We are keeping Jason’s family, friends and colleagues in our thoughts and prayers,’ AU said in a statement. 

Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden said first responders were able to contain the fire to the wreckage as he praised McKenzie for managing to avoid hitting any other buildings.

The single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza A36 crashed at Hillcrest Avenue near Belmont Drive

The plane skimmed a tree ripping off the left wing tip (pictured) before nosediving and bursting into flames

Flights records indicated that he only reached 625 feet in altitude before crashing half a mile from the airport. Pictured: McKenzie on a previous flight

McKenzie crashed outside this $1 million home but miraculously avoided causing any additional casualties through his piloting skills. The home was at one time an off-white color

Neighbors ran outside after hearing the plane go down and found the flaming wreckage smashed onto the leafy street. Pictured: Another $1million home near the crash site

‘We are very lucky and can only credit the pilot for that situation – for not involving another structure,’ he said.

Neighbors described the terrifying moments before the aircraft plunged to the ground. 

‘We hear planes all the time because we live close to Daniel Field, but this time it way louder than normal, and it got louder and louder and it just sounded like it was right outside the window,’ Lewis added.

‘A few seconds later, you kind of heard some sort of rustling kind of crash and then a loud banging pop sound.

‘The Lord is in control of all things. It could have been so much worse.’

McKenzie is survived by his wife Stephanie and their son 

The doting father was described as a committed family man and keen golfer in heartfelt tributes from friends

The keen golfer was credited as a hero by first responders for his quick thinking which avoided further injuries

Moments after the crash power was cut off to the affluent street which sent panicked neighbors poured outside. 

They described seeing the flames at least two stories high.

While the neighborhood is heavily populated, homes in the area are spread out, which officials say helped minimize the impact.

The crash is now being probed by the National Transportation Safety Board. 

AUGUSTA, Ga. – An Augusta University employee has died after his small plane crashed into a neighborhood not too far from the campus.

The plane crashed on Thursday a little more than a half mile from Daniel Field, a general aviation airport in Augusta.

Augusta University told local news outlets that the pilot was Jason McKenzie, the associate director of philanthropy at the school. McKenzie had just taken off in a single-engine Beechcraft 36 with plans to fly to New Haven, Connecticut.

It’s unclear what caused the plane to descend. As it was coming down, it clipped a tree and hit power lines, leaving debris in the tree, and then crashed between two homes in the affluent neighborhood, bursting into flames. No one else was injured, and the plane didn’t hit any buildings.

“I think that was a miracle,” resident Lisa Lewis told WRDW-TV. “I think the Lord protected everyone else.”

Neighbors said that while it’s not unusual to hear planes so close to the airport, this one sounded much louder, followed by the boom of the crash. Firefighters knocked down flames that video showed roaring high into the air.

Jason McKenzie (Photo by Michael Holahan/Augusta University)

The Federal Aviation Administration said the National Transportation Safety Board would investigate. Police roped off a residential intersection with burned debris.

Tiger Woods accepted a special exemption for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the first time the three-time champion has needed an exemption to play.

Woods has been exempt for every U.S. Open since he first played in 1995 as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. His five-year exemption from winning the 2019 Masters expired last year.

The exemption was expected and likely to be the first of many. The USGA is particular about who is exempt from qualifying, last awarding one in 2021 to Phil Mickelson.

Jack Nicklaus, with four U.S. Open titles among his 18 professional majors, received a record eight special exemptions, including five in a row until he stopped playing the U.S. Open after 2000 at Pebble Beach.

Arnold Palmer received five U.S. Open exemptions, the last one in 1994 when he returned to Oakmont near his hometown for a tearful farewell.

Woods won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots, a record margin of victory for any major champion. He added another title in 2002 at Bethpage Black in New York, and he famously won his third U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 just a week before he had reconstructive surgery on his left knee.

“The U.S. Open, our national championship, is a truly special event for our game and one that has helped define my career,” Woods said in a statement. “I’m honoured to receive this exemption and could not be more excited for the opportunity to compete in this year’s U.S. Open, especially at Pinehurst, a venue that means so much to the game.”

The U.S. Open is June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2, which is staging the Open for the fourth time. Woods tied for third, two shots behind the late Payne Stewart, in 1999. He was runner-up at Pinehurst in 2005 to Michael Campbell. He missed the most recent Open at Pinehurst in 2014 while recovering from the first of what would be four back surgeries.

Woods has a long history with the USGA as the only player to win the U.S. Junior Amateur three straight times, followed by the U.S. Amateur three straight times. His nine USGA championships are matched only by amateur great Bobby Jones.

Woods earlier this year was selected to receive the Bob Jones Award, the highest honour from the USGA.

“The story of the U.S. Open could not be written without Tiger Woods,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief championships officer. ”From his 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in 2000 to his inspiring win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines in 2008, this championship is simply better when Tiger is in the field, and his accomplishments in the game undoubtedly made this an easy decision for our special exemption committee.”

It will be the first time Woods competes in the U.S. Open since Winged Foot in 2020, held in September before no fans because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He crashed his car in Los Angeles and badly injured his right leg and ankle in February 2021, causing him to miss the U.S. Open’s return to Torrey Pines. While he returned to competition a year later, the U.S. Open at Brookline in 2022 was the only major he didn’t play. A year ago, Woods had surgery to fuse his right ankle after the Masters and did not play the rest of the year, missing the U.S. Open’s debut at Los Angeles Country Club.

Woods last contended at the U.S. Open in 2010 at Pebble Beach, where he shot 66 in the third round but then closed with a 75 and tied for fourth.

He is expected to play in the PGA Championship in two weeks at Valhalla, where he won in 2000 on his way to capturing all four majors consecutively. Woods said during a round of appearances on NBC shows earlier this week to promote his clothing line that his plan was to play the remaining three majors.