Tragedy struck in western North Carolina as authorities confirmed the deaths of three individuals following the crash of a small aircraft.

MARION, N.C. — Authorities in McDowell County reported on Monday that three individuals perished in a small plane crash. Emergency responders were alerted to the incident after receiving reports of a missing aircraft, eventually locating the wreckage near the border with Rutherford County, approximately 30 miles east of Asheville.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the single-engine Cessna 182 had three occupants on board when it crashed in the rugged terrain close to Rutherfordton. The aircraft had departed from Mountain City, Tennessee, en route to Rutherford County Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has assumed control of the investigation and will provide updates as the inquiry progresses

Preliminary findings from the NTSB indicate that the crash occurred on Sunday, with the wreckage discovered the following day. An investigator from the NTSB is en route to the crash site to document and analyze the scene. While a preliminary report is anticipated within 30 days, a comprehensive report detailing the probable cause and contributing factors may take up to two years to complete, according to NTSB officials.