MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a plane crash that killed two people and critically injured one other person.
Bob Larimer, a dispatcher with the patrol, said the accident occurred about 4:20 p.m. Saturday near a municipal airport in Mount Vernon, southwest of Springfield. He said it is not clear whether the plane was leaving the airport or heading to it.
The victims who died were identified as two skydivers — 36-year-old Marnie Fuller and 32-year-old Jennifer Collins. The Springfield News-Leader reports that Lawrence County coroner Don Lakin confirmed the deaths late Saturday night.
The name of the pilot, who survived but was in critical condition Saturday night at a Springfield hospital, was not released.
Larimer said the plane went down outside of city limits, but he did not know details about the area other than it being rural.
The patrol is leading the investigation for now, but will be joined by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board in the next couple of days.
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