ANDERSON, Ind. — Authorities confirmed to 13News that there are "no survivors" after a small plane crash near Anderson Municipal Airport Friday morning. Four people were listed on the plane's flight plan, police said.
The plane crashed near the 4300 block of East 100 South on the east side of Anderson, just north of the Yarberry gravel pit, around 9:45 a.m. Sept. 6. That's about a half-mile southeast of the airport.
The Madison County Sheriff's Department confirmed there were no survivors of the crash.
On Saturday, the Madison County Coroner's Office released the names of the victims of the crash:
- Joseph R. Scallon, 68, of Iowa Falls, Iowa
- “Owen” James Renaud, 19, of Alden, Iowa
- Jesse H. Ostheimer, 41, of Alden, Iowa
- Braden W. Hicks, 36, of Manson, Iowa
Capt. Darwin Dwiggins, with the sheriff's department, told 13News the single-engine plane departed from Fort Dodge, Iowa, around 6:45 a.m. Friday and was projected to land at the Anderson airport shortly before 10 a.m.
As the plane was making its initial approach to the airport, the pilot was told they were too high and to re-route and make another approach. Dwiggins said eyewitnesses told police the plane was possibly attempting to turn back toward the airport when it "flipped over" and nose-dived into a corn field, bursting into flames.
Vickie Sullinger works at Ameri-Turf, next to the cornfield where the plane crashed. She says she saw the smoke and called 911.
"We heard the plane go over the building," Sullinger said. "It didn't sound normal, but it was quick. Then there was the rattling on the building and the loud thud."
The initial flight plan was for four people, Dwiggins said, but authorities have not verified whether all four were on board at the time of the crash.
"We know one, that's one too many" said Sullinger. “It’s terrible. It’s terrible. I can’t imagine who is getting that phone call today.”
Crews from the FAA and NTSB are responding to the scene Friday.
Dwiggins said the plane was registered to a company, but the identities of anyone on board have not been confirmed.
The airport is located at 282 Airport Road on the east side of Anderson, near Chesterfield.
Editor's Note: The spelling of the names of two of the victims in the crash has been updated after corrections by the coroner's office and family members.