Three die in plane crash in Southwest Missouri

AURORA, Mo. -- The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a plane crash that killed three men and seriously injured a fourth Monday morning. The fatalities were identified as the pilot, Kevin P. Saffold, 25, of Eagle Rock; John D. Shaffer, 52, of Shell Knob; and Roger O. Jones, 30, of Fayetteville, Ark. Walter R. Blair, 43, of Allen, Texas, survived the crash and was taken to St. Johns Hospital in Springfield with serious injuries, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

Authorities said the plane, a 1966 Piper PA-30 twin-engine Comanche, was traveling from Aurora to Kentucky when the crash occurred.

The plane crashed in a wooded area about a mile south of the Aurora airport, which is 35 miles southwest of Springfield.