Pageant contestant dies after crashing her plane during practice

A young pageant contestant who was also a pilot has died after crashing her plane on Saturday, while practising takeoffs and landings on a golf course in the US.

Lake Little, 18, from Mississippi, was practising "touch and go" takeoffs and landings in a single-engine plane when she crashed on the Ole Miss Golf Course in Oxford, Mississippi, according to University of Mississippi spokesman Rod Guajardo.

Little was a licensed private pilot flying a plane affiliated with the Civil Air Patrol, Guajardo said in a statement.

The teen suffered serious burns in the fiery crash and was airlifted to a Memphis-area trauma centre where she succumbed to her injuries on Saturday.

Guajardo added that investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have responded to the scene of the crash and will determine what happened.

Little, whose dream was to fly for FedEx, was also scheduled to compete in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition later this month.

Her biography on the competition's website said Little was majoring in Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Southern Mississippi, and wanted to own a speech pathology clinic while maintaining a career as a pilot.

Condolences from around the state poured in after Little's passing, with Gov. Phil Bryant tweeting about her untimely death.

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill wrote a dedication to the young student on Twitter.

"She was a star for us and had such a great plan for her life commitment to others. Flying was her love and her passion," Spruill wrote.

While the Pageant's organisers also wrote a heartfelt message on their Facebook page.

"The loss of such a bright, shining young life is devastating, and our entire organisation is heartbroken," said the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition on Sunday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Little family and countless others impacted by Lake's sweet and beautiful spirit.

"Through her grace, intelligence, and passion for her community and state, Lake epitomised the highest virtues of Miss Hospitality.

"Her light will forever shine as an incredible example to us all."