Pilot identified in fatal plane crash

The pilot of a single-engine plane was killed Tuesday morning shortly after take off, according to Giles County Emergency Management Agency.

The single engine, single passenger kit plane took off from Abernathy Field in Pulaski when it crashed and caught fire near Highway 11 shortly after 8 a.m.

The plane crashed about a mile away from the airport, right next to a furniture store.

Authorities identified the pilot as Cliff Joseph Rosa, 24 of Huntsville.

Rosa was an Iraq veteran and served in the U.S. Army from July 2007 - April 2012. He was originally from Brooklyn, New York. A friend of his said he had been working for an aviation company at Redstone Arsenal. Rosa had been involved in aviation dating back to his army days.

Rosa's friend said he just bought his plane the past spring. He said flying was a passion for Rosa, who was a very good pilot. Rosa enjoyed taking friends out on his plane for little trips just for fun.

No one else was on board at the time of the crash.

EMA officials, Giles County fire crews, the Sheriff's Office and other agencies responded to the scene. The FAA has also been called to the crash site.

According to authorities, a medical examiner in Tennessee now has the body and will perform an autopsy.

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