Authorities find crashed plane near Ironton

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Authorities believe they have found the remains of a single-engine Wisconsin-bound plane that crashed in Southeast Missouri.

Lt. Col. David Miller of the Civil Air Patrol said in a news release that the plane discovered Friday night about eight miles southeast of Ironton is the aircraft that authorities have been searching for since it went missing March 27 after leaving Arkansas. He said there were no survivors.

Messages left by The Associated Press Saturday with the Madison County Sheriff's Department weren't immediately returned.

FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said in a prerecorded phone message that there was a fire when the plane crashed. She said the sheriff will release the number of victims, and the coroner will provide their names.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation.