Pilot, passenger dead after plane crashes in Yuma County desert

A pilot and passenger died in a Friday afternoon plane crash in Yuma County.

At approximately 1:50 p.m., an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer on patrol saw a large plume of smoke in the desert near Spot Road and Interstate 8 in Dateland, leading to the discovery of a small aircraft fully engulfed in flames, according to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies with the sheriff's office took over the investigation and found a pilot and passenger dead at the scene of the crash of a Van's RV-6 two-seater plane, according to the agency.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The cause is unknown, according to the sheriff's office.

The victims' names have not been released, pending positive identification, the sheriff's office said.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 928-783-4427. To remain anonymous, tipsters can call 78-CRIME (928-782-7463) or submit a tip to yumacountysheriff.org.

Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on Twitter @jrgzztx.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pilot, passenger dead after plane crashes and burns in Yuma County