Plane crash kills one, sparks fire

A small plane crash this morning in southern Utah killed at least one person and ignited a small brush fire that is making it difficult for rescue crews to find possible survivors.

The crash happened about 4 a.m. in the northeast corner of Washington County, about one mile from the Kane County line and three miles from the Iron County border, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The National Transportation Safety Board is on the scene and heading up the investigation.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office dispatched deputies and search and rescue personnel to the site about 11 a.m., after being notified of the crash about 11 a.m.

As of 5:30 p.m. today, Washington County Sheriff's officials did not know how many people were in the plane, where it was headed or where it had taken off from, spokeswoman Stephanie Hayden said.

"From what we know, there is at least one fatality," Hayden said. "We don't know how many people were on the plane, so there could be survivors or more fatalities."

Poor cell phone reception in the area has kept rescue crews from providing more information to the sheriff's office, she said. The fire also is slowing down the investigation.

"The brush fire is making their job difficult," she said. "Not only do they have to hike down into this rough terrain, but there's a fire happening."

Color Country Fire has been called in to deal with the small fire, Hayden said.

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