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Coroner: 2 people dead after plane crashes in St. Charles County

Around 7:30 p.m., the plane disappeared from radar, and officials said residents near the crash site reported hearing or seeing it go down around the same time.

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — Debris from a small plane that disappeared from radar about 20 minutes after it took off Saturday night was found in rural St. Charles County, authorities said.

The twin-engine Beechcraft Baron 58 took off from Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield shortly after 7 p.m. It was traveling to Centennial Airport in Arapahoe County, Colorado, about 17 miles southeast of Denver, according to FlightAware, an app that provides real-time flight data.

Around 7:30 p.m., the plane declared an emergency and disappeared from radar, New Melle fire Chief Dan Casey said.

Officials said several residents along Highway F reported hearing or seeing the plane go down around the same time. Audio from a home security camera near the crash site captured the plane's engines becoming progressively louder for about 20 seconds before they abruptly stopped.

Peter Knudson, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board, said the plane reached an altitude of 8,000 feet before it rapidly descended. The crash site, which spans about 300 yards, is roughly three miles south of New Melle near the Fred Weber Quarry.

Crews from several area fire departments and the Missouri State Highway Patrol searched for more than two hours using utility task vehicles and drones before finally finding debris in a heavily wooded area.

Spirit of St. Louis Airport told first responders that two people were thought to be on board the plane when it crashed. The St. Charles County medical examiner confirmed both deaths, adding it could take several days before identifications are made. Neither person's body had been recovered as of Sunday afternoon.

A Federal Aviation Administration database shows the plane that crashed is registered to Kalitta Charters, a Michigan-based charter airline company.

Conditions in the area when the plane disappeared were rainy and overcast.

The FAA and the NTSB are investigating what led to the crash. Knudson said an investigator from Denver is traveling to the crash site to lead the investigation on Monday.

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