WISHEK -- Three people were killed in a plane crash involving a 19-year-old pilot just south of Wishek on Thursday, June 9.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports that a Piper Cherokee plane took off from the Wishek Municipal Airport on its way to Bismarck just before 3:30 p.m.
The pilot, as well as a 39-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy, died in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators were expected at the scene Friday, according to the Wishek Police Department.
The three victims were found dead at the scene, patrol Sgt. Luke Hendrickson said.
Complications arose during the takeoff and the pilot ended up crashing into May Lake, about 1.5 miles south of Wishek, the patrol said. The plane was a 1964 Piper Cherokee, a light craft with four seats.
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Hendrickson couldn't say what sort of complications preceded the crash into the lake, but said the wreckage was found about 200 yards from shore.
May Lake is fairly shallow, and the depth where the plane crashed was about 5 to 6 feet deep, Hendrickson said.
The lake is directly southwest of the airport.
Hendrickson couldn't comment on if the victims were related. Their identities will be released after family members are notified.
Wishek is about 80 miles southwest of Jamestown or 100 miles southeast of Bismarck.
