Minnesota News

Three killed in plane crash in Victoria, Minn.

Firefighters look on at the scene of a plane crash
Firefighters look on at the scene of a plane crash on Saturday in Victoria, Minn. Three people died when a single-engine plane crashed into a vacant lot and burst into flames, a National Transportation Safety Board official said.
Aaron Lavinsky | Star Tribune via AP

Updated: Aug. 8, 3:25 p.m.

Three people died when a small plane crashed Saturday in Victoria, Minn., west of the Twin Cities.

The Federal Aviation Administration and local officials confirmed that a single-engine Mooney M20 crashed and burst into flames at about 5:40 p.m., striking a home on Rose Street.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Sunday confirmed that all three people aboard the plane died in the crash.

The city said there were people in the home that was struck by the plane, but there were no reports of injuries to anyone on the ground.

The plane crashed near State Highway 5, which remained closed into the night as emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene. It had reopened by Sunday morning.

"This is a tragic event that happened near the heart of Victoria and our community will keep the victims of this incident and their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers during this time," city officials said in a news release.

FAA officials said the plane departed Alexandria Municipal Airport in Alexandria, Minn., and was heading to Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie — about 10 miles from where the plane crashed.

NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said agency investigators are on the scene, but that it was too early in the investigation to determine what caused the crash.

Holloway said the wreckage of the plane was set to be removed Sunday and taken to a secure facility for further examination.

Neighbors responded to the crash scene on Saturday with hoses, and patrons from Floyd’s Bar nearby ran over with fire extinguishers. The fire was extinguished before first responders arrived.

“This is a tragic event that happened near the heart of Victoria and our community will keep the victims of this incident and their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers during this time,” city officials said in a news release.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.