The small southern Utah town of Blanding was in deep mourning Friday as three of its residents, including two current members of the Blanding City Council and a former member, were killed in a plane crash near the Monticello Airport this morning.

"This is an extraordinarily heavy hit for our community," said Mayor Toni Turk. "To take a hit like this is a pretty difficult thing."

Current council members Eric Lyle Johnson and Brian Bayles and former council member Kim Acton were all pronounced dead at the scene after their plane crashed as they were out scouting for elk in preparation for the hunting season.

The accident happened about 7 a.m. Early indications were their single engine Piper was attempting to make an emergency landing in a wheat field, according to the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. The crash will be investigated by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board. Weather was reportedly not a factor in the crash.

"Everybody knows everybody (in Blanding) in one way or another. We're probably all related to one another. It's very difficult," Turk said. "All the men were deeply entrenched in the community."

Showing how just about everyone in town has a connection to one another, Turk noted that all three men belonged to the same Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward, and their bishop was fellow City Councilman Joe. B. Lyman. Acton's wife is a teacher at Blanding Elementary School, and will have one of Bayles' children in her class next year, Turk said.

"All three are men of exceptional integrity and dedication (to) their wives, children and community. Their contribution cannot be measured. They will be missed more than can be expressed," Lyman said.

Johnson and Bayles, both in their mid-30s, were born and raised in Blanding. Both had several young children.

"We just lost two of our most vibrant young men that have given an enormous gift of their time and talent," Turk said. "They were vibrant, full of energy, full of life, full of commitment to the community willing to go the extra mile to provide service. The energy they gave was a tremendous asset to our community ... their judgment, their experience. We just had a council meeting Tuesday night. Eric sat to my right and Brian two seats to my left. They weren't reactive, they were proactive members of the City Council."

Bayles had recently opened a small hamburger restaurant in town called The Patio Drive Inn.

Emma Bayles, a waitress at the Old Tymer Restaurant and a relative of Brian, talked to Brian and Acton Thursday night.

"Everyone loves to go (to The Patio). (Brian) is so open-armed and willing to help everyone," she said. "They were probably three of the best men in Blanding. It was rough on all of us. We're just all really close in this town."