CACHE COUNTY, Utah – A Utah State University student pilot was killed when his plane went down during a USU Aviation solo flight Monday.

Officials said USU senior and 21-year-old aviation student Frank M. De Leon Compres was the only person on board when his plane went down in a hay field in an unincorporated area between the cities of Paradise and Hyrum.

USU senior and aviation student Frank De Leon Compres was killed today during a solo flight. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. — USUAggies (@USUAggies) July 18, 2016

A USU student was killed in a plane crash during a USU Aviation solo flight today. FAA and NTSB are investigating. — USUAggies (@USUAggies) July 18, 2016

The aircraft set off its emergency beacon just after 2 p.m.

Investigators are working to determine what caused his plane to go down.

“He was one of our sharpest,” said Andreas Wesemann, aviation professor with the program. “He was well-motivated and well-liked in the program. This is a sad day for the USU aviation program.”

Utah State University sent Fox 13 News this update on De Leon Compres:

Utah State University student Frank M. De Leon Compres was killed in a plane crash Monday, July 18. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. Officials have notified the student’s family. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, De Leon Compres, 21, was on a solo flight during the accident. He was a senior in USU’s Aviation Technology program in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and was working on solo flight hours for his commercial license. He was a member of the USU Dominican Republic Student Association.