Lancaster, United States— Three people died Thursday when a small plane crashed into a farm field in rural Pennsylvania, scattering debris and starting a small brush fire.
The crash happened at 10:05 a.m. near the town of Intercourse, Lancaster County. The single-engine Cessna 172 was flying from Lancaster Airport to a private strip in northern Pennsylvania. It was carrying a pilot and two passengers, a couple in their 60s.
Air traffic control lost contact about 12 minutes after takeoff. Witnesses on the ground said they saw the plane flying low, then banking sharply left. The engine sounded rough. Then it dropped.
The plane hit a harvested cornfield about 200 yards from a rural road. It broke apart on impact. Fuel ignited. A farmer who was working nearby called 911 after seeing black smoke. He tried to get close but the heat kept him back.
"The aircraft was fully involved when first responders arrived. There were no survivors," a Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson said at the scene. "The wreckage pattern indicates a steep, uncontrolled descent."
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board sent investigators. They marked the debris field, which stretched nearly 150 feet. They recovered the tail section, wings, and engine. The cockpit was destroyed.
Neighbors said the pilot was experienced and flew regularly from Lancaster. The couple on board were visiting family. Their names have not been released pending notification.
Weather at the time was clear with light winds. Visibility was 10 miles. That rules out weather as an obvious factor. Investigators will now look at maintenance logs, fuel, and pilot medical history.
The cornfield remains cordoned off while teams document the site. A preliminary report is expected in two weeks.
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