2 men dead in small plane crash in Illinois

[May 04, 2012]  CRYSTAL LAKE (AP) -- Police in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake say two men have died in a small plane crash.

Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Gene Lowery says the plane crashed Thursday afternoon just west of the Lake in the Hills Airport, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago. Lowery says the plane went down in a former gravel mine pit.

He says officers had to trek 200 to 300 yards through mud and marsh to reach the wreckage. Officers found the two men dead at the scene.

The McHenry County coroner's office has identified the victims as 65-year-old Hugh Scott Clark of Lake Forest and 82-year-old Paul Sanfilippo of Grayslake.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it's unclear if the plane was taking off or landing.

[Associated Press]

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