Plane crash kills all on board northwest of Ponca City

UPDATE: It has been confirmed by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol that there were five fatalities, including the pilot and four passengers. Identities are still withheld for investigation until released by the Medical Examiner’s Office in Oklahoma City. The crash occurred at 10:40 a.m. on U Street just south of Coleman Road, which is about 3 miles west and 1 mile north of Ponca City. The aircraft was a 2000 EXTRA EA-400 Aircraft. It was travelling north when, for an unknown reason, it lost altitude and struck the ground.

***Original Story Follows***

The  crash of a small passenger plane northwest of Ponca City Saturday morning killed all  on board, the Kay County Sheriff’s Office said.

Reserve Deputy Larry Burtner said there were between two and five passengers on board, but the exact number had not been determined by 1 p.m. Investigators were still doing their preliminary investigation into the crash and were waiting for representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, who are expected to arrive Saturday afternoon.

Kay County Sheriff’s Investigator John Grimes said officials from the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to arrive Sunday.

Burtner said the plane was registered in Independence, Kansas. The type of plane was not released and no information was available about the owner or passengers early Saturday afternoon.