54-year-old Dan Hutson II of Murray, Kentucky died when the plane he was flying crashed near Lexington. The FAA says Hutson's plane took off from Kyle Oakley Field at Murray-Calloway County Airport, dropped off a passenger in Lexington and was on its way back to Murray when the plane experienced trouble and crashed near Springfield, Kentucky.

Hutson alerted air traffic controllers and was trying to make an emergency landing when the single engine plane crashed just off the runway at Springfield Lebanon Airport. Witnesses saw the plane spiraling almost like a helicopter before it crashed. They ran to the site to help but nothing could be done."

We all just scanned the whole field looking for him and didn't see anybody. The guy was in there, it was bad," said witness Darrel Garrett.

Hutson's colleagues say he was one of the nicest people they'd ever met and his death is a loss to the family and the community. Hutson was the owner of Hutson, Incorporated, a family business that started more than 75 years ago. Now the company is one of the most successful full line John Deere dealerships in the world. The company operated five dealerships throughout Kentucky.

Colleagues did not want to go on camera but told NewsChannel 6 Hutson was an experienced pilot, he'd flown for more than 25 years and would often fly via helicopter or plane from one location to another.

Hutson graduated from Murray State University and has a summer house on Kentucky Lake but his permanent address is in Florida. He is also the father of three daughters. The oldest, we are told was pregnant, had her due date Tuesday. Colleagues say Hutson and the family were flying to the Lexington area to be by her side.