BILLINGS — A single-engine Cessna 182 crashed about 25 miles north of Billings at around 6 p.m. on Saturday, taking the lives of four people riding in the aircraft, according to Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft crashed under "unknown circumstances."
At 3:10 a.m. Sunday, an initial alert came in stating the aircraft was missing, according to the Federal Avation Administration.
Yellowstone County Sheriff's and other law enforcement agencies concentrated search efforts in the area of Old Divide Road, about 30 miles north of Billings off Highway 87.
Search crews found the crash site around 10 a.m. Sunday in the Old Divide Road / Dunn Mountain area south of Roundup and north of Billings.
Linder said autopsies of the four who died will be done on Monday. Their names have not yet been released.
The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the aircraft's maintenance record, the weather at the time of the crash and interview any possible witnesses.
Representatives with the National Transportation Safety Board will be in the area to investigate in the coming days.
Billings Logan International Airport has confirmed that a plane crashed about 35 miles north of Billings near Highway 87.
Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder is on scene.
UPDATE:
Just before 5:30 p.m. MTN News received word that 4 people aboard the aircraft are confirmed dead.
None of the identities have been released at this time and according to Sheriff Linder.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to arrive this evening to investigate the crash.
1st Report:
At 2:58 p.m. on Sunday, the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook: "Crews are currently at the scene of a downed aircraft near Dunn Mountain. More info to come when it is available."
We will continue to update you as we get more information.
