Flagstaff, AZ –– Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call for an airplane crash near the community of Mountainaire. The call came into the 911 Dispatch Center at approximately 11:45 am on 5/28/13 from a citizen in the area who witnessed the crash and fire. Before arrival of emergency responders, several citizens attempted to extinguish the flames and attend to the occupants. Two occupants of the plane are reported deceased on scene.

The plane is reported to be a small single engine plane, privately owned, and with a registration out of California. The plane had attempted take off out of the Pullium Airport in Flagstaff, AZ. The crash occurred south of the airport and within a hundred feet of residential structures in the Mountainaire community near the end of Tonawanda Rd.

Fire crews of the Highlands Fire Department and the Bear Jaw Wildland Fire Crew responded to the crash as well as a wildland fire ignited by the crash. The wildland fire was contained at approximately ¼ acre. Several trees were in the path of the plane. No structures were damaged by the crash or the wildland fire.

Multiple citizens as well as other agencies assisted the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office in the response including Department of Public Safety Officers, DPS Ranger helicopter crew, US Forest Service Law Enforcement, US Forest Service wildland fire crews, Highlands Fire Department, Bear Jaw Wildland Fire Crew, and Guardian Medical Transport.

The identity of the occupants is still being determined and will not be released until notification of next of kin. Investigation of the plane crash will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.