Bodies of Oklahoma couple found in wreckage of small plane in Arkansas

CHESTER, Ark. (AP) _ Authorities identified two people who died in a small plane crash in Crawford County as a couple from Oklahoma. <br/><br/>Officials said Friday the bodies found Thursday were those

Friday, October 22nd 2004, 9:46 am

By: News On 6

CHESTER, Ark. (AP) _ Authorities identified two people who died in a small plane crash in Crawford County as a couple from Oklahoma.

Officials said Friday the bodies found Thursday were those of Mac and Pat McCutchen of Tryon, a small Lincoln County town south of Stillwater.

The two were reportedly flying to Tunica, Miss., when their plane crashed in a pasture in a mountainous area northeast of Fort Smith. Officials said the victims were in their 60s.

Authorities say the McCutchen's filed no flight plan and no one was aware of a missing plane until a man found it Thursday.

Sheriff's deputies and rescuers went to the site after a man checking his cattle reported he had spotted the wreckage.

Officials said the aircraft was in several pieces but had not burned. No cause for the crash was immediately determined.

Weather in the area has included overcast skies and fog at various times during the past several days.

Crawford County sheriff's Cpl. Aaron Beshears said the pilot's body, and perhaps that of the woman, will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for autopsy. Toxicology samples will be collected and sent to the Federal Aviation Administration for further analysis.