Two people dead after plane crash in Chariton County
At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Sunday, Missouri Troop B Headquarters recieved a report from a citizen that a small aircraft had crashed about 8 miles northeast of Keytesville, MO, in Chariton County.
Members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Chariton County Sheriff's Department, and emergency rescue personnel responded to the area and located a 1946 year model Cessna 140 single-engine airplane crashed in a hayfield.
Both occupants of the aircraft were pronounced dead at the scene by Chariton County Coroner Larry Brashears, and they have been taken to the Boone County Medical Examiner's Office in Columbia, Missouri, pending autopsies.
The occupants have been identified as Andrew J. Beautte, 40, of La Plata, Missouri, and Dawn L. Harl, 38, of Des Moines, Iowa.
It is believed that Beautte was the pilot of the aircraft but is unknown at this time from where the aircraft had taken off or its destination.
A complete investigation will take place sometime Monday by investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration.
