Mock

A spokesperson with Falcon Executive Aviation flight school in Mesa tells CBS 5 the pilot flew in from Safford to Falcon Field to pick up his children and says when they were returning to Safford the two-engine plane crashed. The spokesperson tells CBS 5 there were three adults and three children onboard.

stunning. a sad Thanksgiving.

FOX10

LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK, Ariz. - Three search and rescue teams spent the night on Superstition Mountain, securing the scene of a small plane crash that occurred Wednesday night.

It became too dark and dangerous for them to continue the search overnight.

They said they do not believe anyone from the plane will be found alive. A child's body was located Wednesday night.

Two technical teams were waiting for sunrise to be flown up. They are repelling down to search the rough terrain to photograph and document evidence and look for bodies. The piles of debris from the plane indicate that it split in two.

They need to finish before 4 p.m., because winds are expected to pick up then.

Officials with the FAA and the NTSB are expected to arrive at 10 a.m. to investigate the crash. The NTSB is the lead investigating agency.

The pilot was the father of three children -- two boys and a girl -- who were inside the plane. Their ages ranged from 5 to 9.

A mechanic and another man were also onboard the plane.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, who is heading up the search and rescue team, said in an early-morning news conference that the mechanic was a close family friend, and his presence did not necessarily indicate there was a mechanical problem with the plane.

The children's mother lives in the valley. The parents are divorced, and the father was picking up his children to spend Thanksgiving with him in Safford, in southeast Arizona.

He had flown the twin engine prop plane from Safford and refueled at Falcon Field in east Mesa just before the crash. The plane is registered to Ponderosa Aviation Inc. out of Safford.

Authorities said the mother was informed of the crash Wednesday night and is heartbroken.

No names have been released because other family members have not yet been informed.

Babeu said that the plane was traveling at a speed of 200 miles per hour or more when it hit the mountain.

more photos. tragically stunning pictures.

Wow, those pictures are something else! Watching that video is eerie and surreal at the same time. So sad, no doubt that mother is heartbroken, she must feel like her heart has been ripped from her chest

RIP



Karen Perry, the surviving mother, with (from left) her daughter Morgan, nine, and sons Luke, six, and Logan, eight




Shawn Perry, the father who piloted the small plane




daughter Morgan, who suffered from epilepsy

So sad.

Here is link re identity of family; they live in same place I do, in Gold Canyon. So sad. I get to see these beautiful
mountains everyday as i live at base of Superstitions. When i heard newcast last evening, I looked out and saw the
rescue helicopters enroute to site. Pilot knows this area so "experts" are left wondering if aircraft was unable to climb.

oh geez, i thought i edited my comment to include link:
www.abc15.com pcso identifies victims
most of info has alreay been posted i just noticed.