Las Vegas NowSmall plane crashes in northern Nevada, 4 killed
Associated Press - May 23, 2009 2:55 PM ET
RENO (AP) - Federal officials say a small plane crashed while approaching the airport in the northern Nevada town of Fallon, killing all four people aboard.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says the twin-engine Cessna 320 was returning to Fallon, about 60 miles east of Reno, from Fresno, Calif., when it crashed Friday night on a road about one mile from the airport runway.
Witnesses told authorities that the plane appeared to be in distress and maneuvering erratically shortly before the crash.
The plane burst into flames after crashing and all four people were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names were not immediately released.
Fallon Naval Air Station spokesman Zip Upham confirms the crash involved a military member at the base. The private plane was registered to a Fallon man.
The base plans to release a statement later in the day.
National Weather Service forecaster Wendell Hohmann says gusts of up to 40 mph were reported at the time in the agricultural and ranching town.
The cause of the 7:35 p.m. crash is under investigation by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board.
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