The wife and boy escaped safely, but the pilot, 47-year-old Duane Youd, did not survive.

The crash came hours after Youd was involved in a domestic violence incident and booked into the Utah County Jail on Sunday evening, Sgt.

Motive

Noemi Sandoval of the Payson Police Department told journalists on scene after the incident.

Youd made bail Sunday night and returned to his home after midnight local time with an officer to gather belongings and his truck.

Shortly after, at around 2:30 a.m. Monday, he flew the twin-engine Cessna 525 into the house, according to CBS News.

The plane belonged to a company for which Youd flew, the sergeant said, and the motive remained uncertain.

Experienced

"But he is an experienced pilot, and he flew from Spanish Fork Airport directly here into the home," Sandoval said.

Youd clipped a shed on his descent into the home, which police believe may have altered his trajectory.

The fact that the wife and boy could exit the damaged house safely "was a miracle".