A pilot and a rescue dog he was transporting to an animal shelter were killed when a small plane crashed in the snowy forest of the Catskill Mountains, although two other dogs were later found to have survived, authorities said.

Seuk Kim, 49, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed Sunday night in a remote area of ​​Windham, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of Albany, au officials said.

A preliminary investigation indicates the pilot died on impact, Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky said. The flight was carrying three dogs and was associated with a non-profit group that transports rescue animals with the help of volunteer pilots, the sheriff said.

Two dogs survived the crash: a Labrador-mix puppy who suffered broken bones and another dog who had only minor injuries.

“He was pretty scared and he was dug into the snow,” Kusminsky said of the puppy with broken bones.

That dog, named Whiskey, was taken to a veterinary hospital in Middleton, Conn., according to the nonprofit organization Kim delivers the dogs to, the Schoharie County Animal Shelter. The other dog found safe was an 18-month-old yorkie terrier mix named Pluto.

Tributes poured in for Kim, who was from Springfield, Virginia, in an online memorial on Monday, with fellow rescuers thanking him for flying flights and coordinating pilots across the country.

“Over the years, Seuk has helped save the lives of hundreds of animals who would otherwise have been euthanized due to overcrowding in animal shelters,” said Maggie Pryor, director of the Schoharie County Animal Shelter, in a statement.

Cathay West, who operates Kuddles & Kisses K9 Rescue in Baltimore, Maryland, said she last saw Kim in October at a nearby airport when she surrendered a dog that had been on a list just days before to be euthanized in an overcrowded area. shelter in Tennessee.

“He brought me a mother dog and five puppies,” West said. “He was so involved in trying to get the word out about volunteering to other pilots. That it’s a good thing to save these dogs so they don’t die in shelters.”

A statement from Kim’s family said he was originally from South Korea and “came to this country with little more than a dream and through hard work and perseverance built a life of meaning and generosity.”

“He was a kind, selfless individual who always went out of his way to help others, regardless of the circumstances,” the statement said. “His legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched, both human and animal,” it added.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the crash.

Visibility was poor Sunday, and Kim requested permission to change his altitude because of turbulence before the crash, Kusminsky said.

The plane crashed in the woods a few kilometers from the nearest road. Rescuers located the wreckage before midnight in a forest covered in about a foot of snow, according to the sheriff.