(Image source from: ktar.com)

The Gila County Sheriffs Office (GCSO) has received a call reporting a plane crash in the Mazatal Mountains at around 3:12 pm. The location where the plane has crashed, Mazatal Mountains is said to be about 40 miles northeast to Phoenix.

The Gila County Sheriff’s Office said that it has received a call that was made by one of the survivors who reported the crash that has been taken place in the Mazatal Mountains. The deputies taking the help from the Helicopter Ranger with DPS has searched for the site where the crash has taken place by taking into consideration of the call that they have received by one of the individual who was the survivor of the plane crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration has recorded the Piper P28A going down about 8-10 miles southwest of Payson.

Three individuals have been located by the Arizona department of Public Safety Helicopter Ranger and the deputies of GCSO among which one has been pronounced dead where as the two other have been airlifted to hospitals in the Valley.

It is said that they were the only passengers who aboard the plane at the time of the crash that has taken place at the location which identified to be about 40 miles northeast to Phoenix.

The deceased individual has been identified as a resident of Mesa, Blaine Matthew of the age 59.

The two others who have been airlifted to the Valley hospital have been identified as Colten Egbert of 21 years of age and the other as Spencer Berns of the age 29 years, both the individuals have been identified as being the residents of Mesa.

It has been said by the Federal Aviation Administration that the crash has occurred under the unknown circumstances and the cause of the crash is under investigation.

The investigation will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

By Shrithika Kushangi