RIO LINDA, Calif. -- The pilot killed in a fiery plane crash Saturday morning has been identified as a reserve Sacramento County sheriff's deputy.

Dave Michaud, 53, served as a deputy sheriff from 1984 to 1996, with assignments at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, the Main Jail and on patrol.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department said Michaud retired to pursue his passion in aviation, working as a pilot in the private sector. He had been a reserve deputy since his departure in 1996.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that a 1960s Mooney M20E crashed at 9:05 a.m. Saturday in a parking lot just west of the Rio Linda Airport.

Firefighters found the plane engulfed in flames when they arrived. Both bodies inside were burned beyond recognition.

Witnesses said the plane appeared to have problems immediately after taking off. "I heard a plane take off and I watched it start sputtering and it went straight down, nose dive," said resident Scott Johnson.

"I was waiting for it to pull up, but it didn't," Johnson said.

Michaud's wife, son, and stepson work for the sheriff’s department: His wife is a detective, his son is a deputy sheriff, and his stepson works in records.

Sheriff's Capt. Scott Jones said in a statement that the family declined to provide any public comment on the death.

"We give our condolences. For these people, it was tragic," Sacramento Metropolitan Fire spokesman Capt. Christian Pebbles said.

The name of the other victim, a mechanic, wasn't available Saturday afternoon. Jones said Michaud and the mechanic worked on the aircraft before taking flight.

No one on the ground was injured in the crash. The FAA is investigating.