Man killed in plane crash near airport identified

The man killed Wednesday in a plane crash near the Northern Colorado Regional Airport has been identified at Thomas Lawson, 69, of Golden.

The cause of death was blunt force and thermal injuries, according to the Larimer County Coroner's Office, which also ruled the death an accident in a Monday morning email.

The crash occurred just after 1 p.m. Wednesday about half-mile north of the airport in Loveland after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and an engine on fire, according to emergency radio transmissions. 

MORE: Investigation of plane crash focused on right engine

Witnesses told the Coloradoan they saw the plane catch fire in the air and then spin or flip before crashing, causing a ground fire and a plume of black smoke. 

Northern Colorado Regional Airport general manager Jason Licon said the plane intended to land at the airport, traveling from the Broomfield-Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, about 45 miles away.

Investigators have focused their investigation on the right engine, senior air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board Arnold Scott said. 

Reporter Sady Swanson contributed to this report.