Pilot Reported Difficulties Just After Takeoff

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 03.20.06 1830 EST: The FAA reports a twin-engine Piper PA-34 Seneca went down Monday afternoon near the center of the resort town of Branson, MO. Reports from the scene say all four onboard the aircraft died in the crash.

The plane's pilot apparently experienced problems shortly after taking off from Point Lookout, MO at 12:30 pm CST in rain and fog. CNN reports the pilot radioed he was having difficulty with the aircraft, and that he was attempting to return to the airport.

The plane, which was carrying a full load of fuel, impacted a building containing storage units off of Highway 76.

"He was trying to circle around and, in so doing, according to witnesses, the plane dropped rather quickly below the clouds and crashed into the storage units," Branson communications manager Jerry Adams said.

The plane was reportedly bound for Lubbock, TX. Authorities are withholding the identities of the four onboard pending notification of the peoples' families.

One witness said it sounded like the Seneca was having engine problems as it flew over her office.

"My boss saw it in the air, and he said it was making some very erratic movements," Terry Ware told the Associated Press. Ware said she rushed to the scene, but she couldn't get close to the plane because of the intense postcrash fire.

"You could hear the people screaming," Ware added. "You couldn't get close enough to help them before the fuel went off."

That ensuing fire was still burning for hours after the accident, fed by the contents of the storage units.

Investigators from the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to arrive Tuesday.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov