CENTERVILLE (September 24, 2009)—The Texas Department of Public Safety Thursday identified the pilot who was killed when his single-engine aircraft crashed into a house in Leon County as he prepared to land at a small landing strip as Paul Valois of Vermont.

Authorities say Valois, who had a home in the Hilltop Lakes community, was the only person aboard the plane when it crashed at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The residents of the house the plane hit were not home at the time.

Leon County Sheriff Jerry Wakefield said the development has a 5,000-foot runway with lights that pilots can usually turn on by remote control.

He said the lights were damaged by a recent storm and must be turned on manually.

As Valois circled until someone on the ground could turn on the lights, his plane clipped some trees and crashed into the house, which burst into flames.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the fiery crash.