Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.

A small aircraft crashed and caught fire on Saturday morning near a freeway in Santa Clarita, California, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

One person is dead after an aircraft crashed around the 14 Freeway near the Newhall Avenue exit in Santa Clarita, Calif. on Saturday morning. NBC News

"Aircraft engulfed in flames," the sheriff's department tweeted Saturday.

#Breaking Downed aircraft, 14 Fwy & Newhall Ave, East of 14 Fwy #Newhall, Santa Clarita Sta Deputies & @LACOFD on scene. Aircraft engulfed in flames, unknown condition of occupant(s) — LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) January 4, 2020

The California Highway Patrol tweeted that the 14 freeway would be blocked for an "unknown duration due to police and FAA activity."

Authorities said the "sole occupant of downed aircraft in #Newhall is deceased on scene" and asked the public to avoid the area.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane was a "home-built TM-1 Thunder Mustang" and that it burned after crashing. They believe that only person on board was the pilot.

The FAA will assist the National Transportation Safety Board in investigating the cause of the crash.

"It typically takes the NTSB a year or more to determine a probable cause of an accident," the FAA said.