Two occupants confirmed dead in Clay County plane crash

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- In a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon, the Clay County Sheriff's Office confirmed that two occupants are confirmed dead in a plane crash in Excelsior Springs.

Clay County officials received a call about heavy smoke coming from a field near NE 140th St. and Rhodus Road just before noon on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Callers stated they believed it may have been from a plane crash.

When deputies arrived, they located a Cessna C340 fully engulfed in flames in a soybean field. There were at least two occupants inside, who have been confirmed as dead.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office is working to identify the occupants of the plane and will notify next of kin.

The plane appeared to have been trying to land at the Midwest National Air Center. Preliminary information indicates the plane may have come from an airport outside of the St. Louis metro area.

Air traffic at the airport remains closed until 5 p.m., while the investigation is ongoing.

Clay County officials notified the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which will take over the investigation into what caused the crash.

This is a developing story.