The New Jersey pastor who died in a fiery crash earlier this month told a friend he recently had engine troubles before he took off on a flight, lost power and crashed into a densely wooded area, federal officials said.

Rev. Andrew Topp, who was known for his humanitarian efforts to help victims devastated by disasters from Haiti to Texas, was alone in the Piper PA-32 when it crashed May 2 at the former Jungle Habitat safari park in West Milford.

The six seat, low-wing, tricycle gear airplane had taken off for a short flight from Greenwood Lake Airport in West Milford to Orange County Airport in Montgomery, N.Y. before the engine stopped working.

A flight instructor, who was also Topp's friend, told investigators he spoke to the Topp just before the crash, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Topp said he was having trouble with the airplane's engine, and thought either the magnetos, which produce high voltage for spark plugs, or the spark plugs themselves were malfunctioning, the NTSB said.

Topp, who had 625 hours of flying experience, reportedly said he planned to taxi to the end of the runway and perform an engine run-up, a last-minute check to see if the plane was working. If he was successful, he planned to fly the 1968 plane to Orange County and return, the report said.

Someone about a mile north of the airport heard the takeoff, and then heard the engine sputter before shutting off. He then heard the sound of a crash, according to the NTSB report.

A fire consumed the wreckage in a wooded area just over 1,000 feet from the small airport's runway, and destroyed the instrument panel. Both wings were found detached about 30 feet behind the plane, the report said.

Topp's family said the maintenance logbooks were kept on the plane in the luggage compartment, which caught fire during the crash. No documents were salvageable.

The pastor had worked to build an orphanage and bring medical supplies to Les Cayes, Haiti after a catastrophic 2010 quake killed thousands. Although he contracted what was believed to be malaria, he stayed in Haiti to help those in need.

When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas last summer, Topp worked with Home for Good Dog Rescue to fly supplies to the region and return with some 300 dogs.

He served as a pastor at the First Reformed Church of Boonton for two decades before becoming a part-time pastor while operating a small construction business.

Officials are continuing to examine the airframe and engine.

BREAKING UPDATE: Small plane down near Greenwood Lake Airport in West Milford, NJ... possible fatality...

Crash sparked fire in the woods #nbc4ny pic.twitter.com/bXfGkWzCfd — Steven Bognar (@Bogs4NY) May 2, 2018

Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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