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2 Killed In Plane Crash At Taunton Airport

TAUNTON (CBS) -- Two people were killed in a small plane crash near the municipal airport Sunday morning.

The aircraft went down near Westcoat Drive, which is the roadway to the Taunton Municipal Airport/King Field, at about 6:30 a.m.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the recently purchased two-seat Aeronca 7AC went down after takeoff.

A friend of the victim told WBZ-TV, John Schmouth, 69, of Brockton was one of the people who died.

Investigators have tentatively identified the two victims as Schmouth, who was piloting the aircraft, and Roland Deslauriers, 61, of Bridgewater, the Bristol County District Attorney's office reported Sunday night. Although next of kin notifications have been made and investigators believe they have identified both victims, the confirmed identities of the two victims will not officially be known until the Medical Examiner's Office conducts autopsies, according to the DA's office.

Taunton Police Lt. Paul Roderick said fire officials had to put out a fire subsequent to the crash.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports

2 Killed In Plane Crash At Taunton Airport

Several agencies are investigating the crash, including the Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, Taunton Police Department, Taunton Fire Department, Massachusetts State Police and the state Medical Examiner's Office.

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