Two Dead After Small Plane Crashes in Remote Area of Paulding County

Authorities responded to a report of a possible plane crash in a remote part of western Paulding County on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Upon arrival, responders discovered a small airplane, identified as a 1974 Grumman American Aviation Corporation AA-5 fixed-wing single-engine aircraft, crashed nose-down in a wooded area near 373 Crawford Road, Rockmart, GA 30153, within unincorporated Paulding County.

The owner of the aircraft contacted authorities at approximately 1:43 PM after the plane failed to return as scheduled. Using tracking information, the owner pinpointed the plane’s last known location in the Crawford Road area, prompting responders to begin their search.

Once authorities located the wreckage, they found both occupants deceased inside the aircraft. The victims were identified as flight instructor Sungwook Lee, 27, of Daytona Beach, FL, and flight student Johnathan Lara, 27, of Powder Springs, GA.

Flight records revealed the plane departed from Paulding County Airport (PUJ) at 10:24 AM, and its last known position on the flight tracker was in the Crawford Road area at 11:21 AM. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident or who may have seen the plane to contact the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at (770) 443-3047.