Small plane crashes south of St. Louis

FESTUS, Mo. -- A small multi-engine airplane crashed Wednesday morning in Jefferson County, killing the pilot.

Claude Sherrell, 66, of House Springs, was alone on the Beech model 95-A55 plane when it went down at around 9:30 a.m., shortly after taking off from the Festus airport, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer said.

The crash happened in a wooded area near a mobile home park not far from the airport. No one on the ground was hurt.

Officials don't know what caused the crash.

"Several witnesses said they heard the engine sputtering and saw the plane in a short descent," Boyer said. The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating.

Boyer said Sherrell was practicing takeoffs and landings at the Festus airport.