Single-engine plane out of KC crashes in Indiana, killing 3 people and a dog

Three people and a dog aboard a flight that originated in Kansas City died when their single-engine plane crashed in a wooded area in southeast Indiana Saturday night.

A second dog survived the crash and showed up at a nearby home, according to Indiana State Police.

The plane, a single-engine Cessna, took off from Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport Saturday afternoon, according to online flight records. It was bound for Frederick, Maryland.

Hours later, the plane was being tracked by Cincinnati Air Traffic Control when it disappeared from radar. The plane crashed about 9:10 p.m. in a wooded area northwest of Oldenburg, Ind.

Initial reports indicated that the plane caught fire after it crashed. When officers arrived on the scene, they found the burning wreckage in a heavily wooded area behind a residence. Firefighters extinguished the fire.

The surviving dog, after being found at a nearby home, was taken to a veterinarian for treatment of its injuries.

The Indiana State Police are investigating the wreck along with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Investigators said Sunday they have not identified the cause of the crash.

On Monday, autopsies will be performed on the victims of the crash. Their names were not being released until authorities could confirm their identities and notify relatives.

The plane was registered to a limited liability company out of Potomac, Maryland. The company’s name was the same as the plane’s tail number, N761YZ.

This story was originally published December 17, 2017 at 2:46 PM with the headline "Single-engine plane out of KC crashes in Indiana, killing 3 people and a dog."