The identity of the pilot killed in Thursday’s incident near the Grass Valley airport (GOO) has been released along with more details about what transpired just before the crash.

In a press conference published to FOX40’s YouTube channel Thursday afternoon, Grass Valley Police Lt. Brian Blackenmore identified the deceased pilot as Robert Lund of Newcastle. Lund was the only person on board the 1977 Cessna Cardinal 177 RG, police said.

The flight originated from the Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN) just after 8 a.m. local time, Blackenmore said. The pilot reported an engine failure after entering the pattern for Grass Valley Airport, and authorities say Lund tried to avoid populated areas as his aircraft lost altitude.

Grass Valley airport manager Kevin Edwards said he was monitoring radio traffic when he heard Lund’s mayday call. Edwards said Lund overflew runway 07/25 at Grass Valley, making all the appropriate radio calls as he entered the pattern at the non-towered airport. Lund announced an engine failure during the base leg of the pattern for runway 07, Edwards said.

“When you hear something like that you want to respond.” a visibly emotional Edwards said. “I grabbed our hand-held radio, got in the county vehicle, and immediately started looking.”

Personnel from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will be at the crash site throughout the investigation, Blackenmore said.

The Cessna 177 RG came down near Whispering Pines Lane, about a mile west of the approach end of runway 07, according to reports. Weather data for the airport shows Visual Meteorological Conditions during the time of the crash with winds variable at about 5 kts and clear skies. Edwards said winds favored runway 07 at the time of the incident.

Edwards said he feels the loss of Lund and sent condolences to his family.

“You do what you do because you love it. I could tell Mr. Lund did the same thing, he was doing what he did, he loved what he was doing,” Edwards said.