Authorities say the Columbus father who died in a small plane crash this week in Madison County was training to become a pilot.
Authorities report 43-year-old Athar Ashraf and his instructor, Malik Naseem, were killed Tuesday evening while trying to land a single-engine Cessna at the Madison County Airport.
Dan Boggs with the NTSB says weather may have played a factor in the incident, but a preliminary report won't be out for about two weeks.
Family members say Ashraf managed hotels in Columbus and leaves behind three young daughters, ages three, six, and nine.