Massachusetts flight school owner, instructor and student pilot killed in small plane crash

• The owner of Fly Lugu Flight School, a flight instructor and a student pilot died in a small plane crash in Massachusetts on Sunday.
• The crash occurred near Leyden, Massachusetts, prompting a search by authorities after reports from dog walkers.
• The crash site was located in Leyden Wildlife Management Area, and all three occupants were found dead by emergency responders.

The owner of a flight school and a student pilot were among three people who died in a small plane crash in a remote, wooded area of Massachusetts over the weekend, state police said Monday.

Fredrika Ballard, 53, of Southwick, Massachusetts, owned the Fly Lugu Flight School while William Hampton, 68, of Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, was a flight instructor. Chad Davidson, 29, of Woodstock, Connecticut, was a student pilot on the flight that crashed Sunday. They were the only occupants.

No one could be reached at Fly Lugu for comment.

SMALL PLANE CRASH IN RURAL MASSACHUSETTS LEAVES MULTIPLE FATALITIES, AUTHORITIES SAY

The twin-engine Beechcraft Baron 55, which took off from Barnes Airport in Westfield at approximately 11:06 a.m. Sunday crashed near Leyden, Massachusetts. Authorities began searching the crash site in Leyden Wildlife Management Area near Greenfield around 11:30 a.m. after several dog walkers reported seeing a plane crash.

All three passengers were found dead inside the plane by the Greenfield Firefighters and American Medical Response paramedics.

MASSACHUSETTS TRUCK DRIVER INVOLVED IN FATAL CRASH THAT KILLED 7 WANTS LICENSE BACK

Federal Aviation Administration Aviation inspectors responded to the crash site Sunday and a National Transportation Safety Board investigator was expected to arrive Monday, state police said.

State police said the crash remains under investigation.