PHOENIX -- A vintage plane crashed Thursday afternoon at Chandler's Stellar Airpark, killing the pilot, Federal Aviation Administration authorities said.

• Slideshow: Vintage Plane Crash Kills Pilot


• Watch: 1 Dead In Chandler Plane Crash

At least one hanger at the facility caught fire.

Authorities and family members identified the pilot as Nazzi Hirani, a Chandler businessman who was in his 50s and had a collection of World War II airplanes.

The single-engine P-51D Mustang -- a WWII-era aircraft -- crashed into a hangar at the airpark about 1:20 p.m., said FAA spokesman Ian Gregor.

Helicopter footage showed a burned hole in the hangar and a piece of the plane with a National Aircraft Insignia.

"Right behind that palm tree you'll see a wrought iron fence is blasted out," said Paul Nies of the Chandler Fire Department. "Where it came to rest would suggest a north to south travel pattern."

Footage also showed that neighboring hangars were evacuated.

Stephen Seitter, who lives nearby, said he heard the crash.

"All the sudden the whole house, just a big heavy shake," Seitter said.

According to a friend of the pilot, the plane was flying from an aviation show at Gateway Airport in Mesa. An additional witness said the plane looked as if it was having some sort of mechanical problems as the pilot attempted to land.

"This aircraft at a high rate of speed went through a door and a stone pillar," Nies said. "The cockpit is severely damaged and severely burned."

The plane was registered to Hirani Oil Arizona, a sales and property management company in Chandler.