The Piper Model PA-32 plane took off from the Greater Kankakee airport in Normal, Illinois - but lost contact with aviation officials in Pittsburgh around 1:00 AM.

Search and rescue crews scanned the area near the Ohio County Airport shortly after the plane lost contact with Pittsburgh International Airport. However, heavy fog made the search difficult.

Once the fog lifted, the Air National Guard used their helicopter to search for the missing plane. The wreckage was found at 10:00 a.m.

A release from Normal Illinois-based Commercial Packaging

identified president Gary Egbers, sales executive Mark Long, and

account specialist Tracy Gibson as three of the passengers who died.

The names of the pilot and the other victim, a person with a Brooke County company, have not been released, but also perished in the crash.

One witness who lives near the airport said she heard the plane start to fail. The National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of investigating the cause. They're expected to arrive on scene early Tuesday morning.

From the Ohio County Mobile Newsroom

-Ashlea Kosikowski, NEWS 9