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HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — A small aircraft crashed in an open field in Highlands Ranch Saturday afternoon.

Reports of a plane crash came in shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday.

A spokesperson from Douglas County Sheriff’s Office told FOX31 Denver that the accident was south of C-470 and just east of Lucent Boulevard — this is right behind a major shopping center and a Super Target.

Pictures posted on Twitter by Larry Sellers showed emergency crews already on scene.

https://twitter.com/lsbuffs/status/450013814503649280

Sellers also tweeted that the plane flew low over a H2O Carwash before crashing into the field. He said the pilot initially survived the impact, but died when the plane caught on fire.

https://twitter.com/lsbuffs/status/450020288910987264

Car wash employees told FOX31 Denver’s Greg Nieto the pilot of the plane was a “hero” for his efforts to avoid local businesses as his plane went down.

A Douglas County Sheriff deputy described the crash as a “fireball when it landed.”

The National Transportation Safety Board was on scene investigating, said the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies confirmed one fatality.