ALACHUA COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Family and friends of the pilot who lost his life when his plane went down in Alachua County are organizing a fundraiser is his honor.

21-year-old Adrien Valentine died on Tuesday, Nov. 14, when the private, single-engine plane he was flying crashed in Paynes Prairie State Preserve. He was the only person on board.

A GoFundMe, organized by Brandon Starr, says they are raising money to help the Valentine family with funeral costs and any other unexpected expenses.

The fundraising page says Adrien is survived by his parents Kathleen and Russell Valentine. Adrien’s dad, Russell, is a lieutenant at Alachua County Fire Rescue and has been with the department for over 25 years. ACFR shared the GoFundMe on its Facebook page asking for prayers for the Valentine family.

The family remembered Adrien at a funeral mass on Monday, Nov. 20, held at St. William Catholic Church in Keystone Heights.

His obituary indicates he graduated in 2020 from Keystone Heights High School where he played basketball and tennis.

It says he worked for the Gainesville Regional Airport as a lineman and was working toward the goal of becoming a commercial pilot. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash. The NTSB says Adrien reported “flight control malfunction.”

“Adrien was talented in so many areas, music being just one of them; he played the guitar and the piano which he played by ear,” states the obituary on the Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home’s website.

It says Adrien was an Eagle Scout and that he completed his Eagle Scout project for Gold Head State Park in Keystone Heights.

“He loved flying, sky diving, gaming and touched many lives all over the world,” said his family in the obit.

The GoFundMe set a fundraising goal of $17,000. As of Thursday, Nov. 23, more than 182 donations have been made to the GoFundMe and has raised $18,400. Individual donations range from $10 to $1200.

The GoFundMe page says the donations will allow their loved one’s spirit to fly eternally through the creation of a memorial fund.

“In honor of Adrien’s love of flying a memorial fund will also be established to give others the opportunity to explore their shared love of the sky and to obtain pilot training.”