4 killed as plane bound for East Tennessee crashes in Arkansas

The plane crashed shortly after takeoff approximately two miles east in a residential area off Van Horn Road.

Dispatchers said the plane was leaving the Russellville Airport.

A state emergency official says three people were killed when a small airplane crashed in a yard in western Arkansas.

Authorities arrived on the scene at 8:24 a.m. All four occupants from the plane – three passengers and a pilot – were recovered, and all were deceased when authorities located them.

“Tragedy has struck Pope County this morning”, Sheriff Jones said in a press conference. No one on the ground was injured and there was no personal property damage. Jones said all four victims are adults and authorities are awaiting positive identification before any names are released.

Jones said their was a few fog near Crowe Mountain at the time of the crash, but the cause is still under investigation.

“FAA investigators are on their way to the crash site, and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified”, Lunsford said in a statement.

The FAA will release the tail number from the plane when it is able to confirm that information.