US: Small plane crashes in Arizona, at least three killed, one missing

The Cessna 210 crashed late on Monday in steep, rugged terrain about 24km north of Payson, Arizona, authorities said. The cause has not been determined.

At least three of the four people on board a small plane were killed as the plane flying from Arizona to Colorado crashed northeast of the Phoenix area, sheriff’s department and aviation officials said on Tuesday.

Police and investigators block off the scene of a small plane crash in a remote area of Phoenix. (AP file photo)

The Cessna 210 crashed late on Monday in steep, rugged terrain about 24km north of Payson, Arizona, authorities said. The cause has not been determined.

The three people confirmed killed were located at the crash site early on Tuesday morning by rescuers, but the fourth person aboard the plane has yet to be found, Gila County sheriff Adam Shepherd said by telephone.

The victims were not immediately identified.

The plane was en route from Scottsdale, Arizona, to Telluride, Colorado when the crash occurred.

Deputies were able to locate the downed plane by asking a phone company to “ping” the cell phone of one of the people aboard the plane, Shepherd said. In general, phone companies can triangulate a phone’s location using networking satellites or communications towers.

A spokesperson for the federal aviation administration said the agency was investigating the crash along with the National Transportation Safety Board.