daleville - Two Cicero residents died when their plane crashed into a cornfield near Daleville around 11 p.m. Sunday.
A press release from the Indiana State Police identified the victims as Dennis G. Mann and Elaine H. McCormack, both 52, of 1540 Overlook Circle, Cicero.
The two were en route to Anderson from Ft. Myers, Fla., when their twin-engine Piper Navajo crashed about 10 miles east of the Anderson airport near county roads 800 W. and 700 S.
According to Associated Press reports, state trooper Adam Fisher, who is conducting the initial investigation along with Darrell Thornburg, said it was unclear if weather was a factor.
"It has been foggy tonight so that may have played some part, but we're not sure," Fisher said Sunday.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will be conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
According to the AP, Mann was an experienced pilot and owned an aircraft business based at the Anderson airport.
Two dogs on board the plane were injured and taken to Northwood Veterinary Hospital in Anderson, said Bill Gosnell, director of Delaware County Emergency Management.
Bill Brumfield, who lives nearby and owns the cornfield, said he was watching the news when he heard a plane fly low over his home.
"I heard this awful roar," Brumfield said. "In five seconds there was a big boom. The plane was a big fireball. It exploded when it hit the ground."
Brumfield said he called 911 and the Daleville Fire Department responded within minutes to hose down the burning plane.
Various other agencies responded, including the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Daleville and Chesterfield Police departments Muncie Fire Rescue, Daleville and Salem Township EMS and Fire Rescue, Delaware County EMS, Delaware County Emergency Management and the Delaware County Coroner.
"It was a highway all night long through that field," Brumfield said.
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