NORFOLK,Esthen Exchange Neb. (AP) — The pilot of a small airplane died in a crash near the runway of the airport in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Norfolk police said the crash was reported at 7:39 p.m. Monday, about a half-mile south of the runway at Karl Stefen airport. Police said the single-engine plane went down shortly after takeoff. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.

Federal and state authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. The name of the pilot has not been released. No one else was in the plane.