Authorities: Two people from Houston killed in Illinois plane crash

KEWANEE, IL -- Authorities say two Texas residents have died in a plane crash in northern Illinois that left a third person injured.

The Peoria Journal-Star reports authorities responded to the crash in a soybean field in Kewanee around 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Henry County Coroner David Johnson pronounced 67-year-old Steven Murray and his son, 38-year-old Mark Murray, dead at the scene. Both were from Houston.

A third victim, 40-year-old Samantha Murray, was airlifted to a Peoria hospital.

Johnson tells the newspaper all three had been in the area for a family gathering and were returning home.

Illinois State Police say a farmer heard the crash, found the downed plane and called authorities.

The aircraft crashed about two miles west of Kewanee Municipal Airport, where it had taken off.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.