Small plane crashes after takeoff in Maine; 3 dead

OWLS HEAD, Maine (AP) -- A sheriff says a small plane crash near the Knox County Regional Airport in Owls Head, Maine, has killed three people.

Downeast Air president John Newcomb operates at the airport and went to the crash site. He says flames shot 10 to 20 feet high and consumed the plane.

Knox County Regional Airport manager Jeff Northgraves says the Cessna 172 four-seater ran into trouble on its takeoff roll and went down at 5 p.m.

Sheriff Donna Dennison says officials are searching the woods to make sure all victims are accounted for.

The crash happened near the end of a runway at the airport, site of the deadliest commercial airplane crash in state history in 1979. More than a dozen passengers and two pilots died in that crash.