SANDY RIDGE, Pa. (WJAC) — UPDATE 3: The FAA has released the following statement:
A Cessna C172 aircraft crashed in the vicinity of Sandy Ridge Mountain in Rush Township, Pa., about 1 p.m. today. The aircraft took off from University Park Airport in State College. It was heading to Burlington International Airport in Vermont. Check with local authorities for information about the condition of the two people on board. The FAA will investigate and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will determine the probable cause of the accident.
UPDATE 2: Officials say a resident witnessed a low flying plane descending over an area made up of mostly state game land.
The Mountaintop Fire Chief Timothy Sharpless says the resident thought they heard an explosion moments after seeing the plane.
Numerous fire and rescue crews throughout the area responded to the scene.
The Centre County coroner arrived after crews located the plane and was taken to the scene.
the mountaintop fire chief says getting to the scene was a struggle.
“A resident saw a low flying plane, heard what they thought to be an explosion,” Sharpless says. “We were hampered by heavy fog so we weren’t sure if what they were seeing was smoke or fog which hampered any real surveillance to try to locate.”
Sharpless says he suspects there were multiple fatalities.
The Centre County EMA says the investigation has been handed over to the FAA, they will investigate to determine the cause of the crash.
UPDATE 1: Fire officials say the plane has been found. A 6 News crew near the location says the Centre County coroner is on scene.
ORIGINAL STORY: Crews are searching for the scene of a possible single engine plane crash in Centre County, according to the Columbia Fire Company.
According to officials, the reported crash happened Wednesday afternoon in the area of Sandy Ridge.
A 6 News crew is headed to the area.
This is a developing story. Stay with 6 News for updates.