LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- A Sparta, Tenn., doctor who was the father of seven children died Friday after the small plane that he was piloting hit an Atlanta-area house and burst into flames.

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Dr. James Wardlaw's plane crashed into a Lawrenceville, Ga., house shortly after takeoff, killing him and a woman who lived at the home.

Authorities responding to 911 calls shortly after 1 p.m. Friday found the house engulfed in flames.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the plane took off from Gwinnett County Airport and was headed to Sparta, Tenn. It was registered to Doctors' Aircraft Services and KM Aviation of Sandy Springs, Ga.

The National Transportation Safety Board said that no distress signal was filed before the crash. Witnesses said conditions in the area were foggy at the time of the crash.

Fire crews worked nearly three hours later to extinguish hot spots where the crash occurred.

Wardlaw, an optometrist, was known as a respected member of the Sparta community, published author and motorcyclist enthusiast. He was a cancer survivor and was known to often fly people who were in need to different areas of the country.

Wardlaw leaves behind six daughters and one son.