UPDATE -- Tuesday, Oct. 6:
CROWN KING, Ariz. -- A second body was recovered from the crash site.
The victims have been identified as Ralph Smith, 74, and his wife, Francis Smith, 70. The couple are from Aguila, Ariz.
ORIGINAL STORY:
CROWN KING, Ariz. -- Authorities say the wreckage of a small
plane was found Monday in northern Arizona and at least one person
has been killed.
Federal Aviation Administration officials say the single-engine
plane had departed Sunday from St. Johns and was supposed to arrive
in Aguila the same day. When it didn't show up, relatives notified
authorities.
The FAA registry shows the plane belongs to a company in Aguila,
a town west of Wickenburg.
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor says at least one fatality was
confirmed but it was unclear how many people were aboard the plane.
Authorities say ground crews working a 1-acre wildfire in a
mountainous area just south of Crown King discovered the wreckage
in a remote area.
Arizona Bureau of Land Management spokesman Ken Shaver says
firefighters were unaware of reports of a missing plane beforehand.
Shaver says the crash scene has been secured and National
Transportation Safety Board officials would be handling the
investigation.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
