FAA to Investigate Plane Crash in Rabun County

20140726_112926Rabun County authorities and the FAA continue to investigate a Saturday plane crash that killed one person.

It happened about 9a near Heaven’s Landing, an upscale fly-in community outside of Clayton.

The victim is identified as the pilot, 65-year old Ernest Merkelis of Clayton.

A spokesperson for Heaven’s Landing said the plane was headed to Chicgao and then on to Wisconsin when it went down.

Witnesses say the plane took off in low visibility and did not clear the mountain surrounding the community.