A man tragically died while another was severely injured after a single-engine plane crashed into the woods in Georgia, fire officials said.

The Gwinnett County air traffic control tower alerted a 911 dispatcher about the crash in Lawrenceville around 5.30pm on Tuesday.

A pilot flying a Velocity-173 FG allegedly reported a technical problem with the engine, after which the plane crashed into the trees near homes located in the area.

The firefighters arrived at Old Athens Road and found two men trapped inside the plane, authorities said.

One of the two occupants, identified by the police as Eric Stephens, was pronounced dead on the scene, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

The other man, identified by the police as Peter Magnuson, was rescued by the firefighters and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The surviving victim did not suffer life-threatening injuries, officials said.

The plane was flying from Briscoe Field, Gwinnett Fire spokesperson Jessica Joyner told CBS News Atlanta.

A pilot flying a Velocity-173 FG allegedly reported a technical problem with the engine, after which it crashed into the trees 

One of the two passengers, identified by the authorities as Eric Stephens, was pronounced dead on the scene. The other passenger, identified by the police as Peter Magnuson, survived the accident

The flight remained airborne for approximately 90 minutes before the crash, Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

The pilot tried making an emergency landing due to the engine failure, officials said. 

The plane then went down one mile southeast of Gwinnett County Airport and plummeted into the woods.

Crew members on the scene did not find any active fires when they arrived.

Seth Bilstin was driving home when the accident took place, he told the outlet.

‘I noticed that somebody was moving around, and I shouted, ‘Hello, hello!’ So that’s when I called 911, and they got here within a few minutes,’ Bilstin said. 

‘And it’s pretty scary stuff,’ he added. 

The authorities later found out that the plane was registered under Stephens’s name, the outlet reported.

The 57-year-old victim who died was a Roswell father, the outlet reported.

He leaves behind a wife and two daughters, according to a congregational letter issued by Roswell United Methodist Church.

The church said it will place a prayer quilt in the sanctuary through Sunday.

‘We invite you to pray over the quilt for Eric’s family, as it will be given to provide God’s comfort and love,’ the church said.

‘May the peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of Christ Jesus.’

The police have not yet shared an update on Magnuson’s condition. 

It is also not yet revealed what specific mechanical failure caused the fatal engine failure. The investigation is still ongoing.