JUNE 5, 2015
RATON, New Mexico
Two people died in a single-engine airplane crash in northeastern New Mexico about 4.5 miles east of Raton early Friday morning, a Federal Aviation Administration official said.
The identities of the victims were not immediately released, and the cause of the crash remained unclear as of Friday evening.
FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said the Piper PA-18 aircraft was being operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture when it crashed, killing both the pilot and a passenger.
Sgt. Chad Pierce, a New Mexico State Police spokesman, said his agency dispatched officers to the scene Friday morning, but he couldn’t provide any other details about the incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, but a spokesman couldn’t provide any details about the crash.
According to the National Weather Service, the weather near Raton on Friday morning was slightly overcast with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the area.
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Authorities say a small plane has crashed near Raton, but there are no reports of any injuries.
New Mexico State Police say officers responded to the scene of the crash about 7 a.m. Friday.
They say the single-engine plane went down southeast of Raton.
No other details were immediately released.
The National Traffic Safety Bureau will be conducting the investigation into the crash.