Wreckage of airplane located near Aberdeen. Photo: NTSB

ABERDEEN, S.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The crash of a small plane near Aberdeen that killed the pilot was caused when the plane hit a tree in wind and fog at night.

The National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report said the pilot, 70-year-old Gerald Seliski of Hecla, South Dakota, crashed about 10:30 p.m. on October 9 soon after takeoff from Aberdeen Regional Airport.

The NTSB said Seliski did not have a pilot’s certificate.

A hunter found the wreckage about 3 miles from the airport.