Two killed as small plane crashes near Lake of the Ozarks shortly after takeoff

MISSOURI, Nov 3 — A small plane crashed near Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri on Tuesday afternoon, killing both people aboard. The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop F confirmed two fatalities: a 51-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man, both from Simpsonville, Kentucky. Their names have not been released.

Crash shortly after takeoff

The Federal Aviation Administration said a Cirrus SR22 carrying two people crashed in Lake of the Ozarks State Park at about 2:15 p.m. local time on November 3. The patrol said the plane had departed Lee C. Fine Memorial Airport and went down near Public Beach Drive in Camden County, where it was found fully engulfed in flames. Troopers first reported responding to the crash at about 3 p.m. and confirmed the two deaths about 90 minutes later. Flight-tracking data cited by aviation outlets identifies the aircraft as registered N313DG, though the FAA's preliminary notice did not confirm a registration.

Identification and cause still under investigation

The Miller County Coroner's Office said preliminary identifications had been made and people believed to be next of kin had been notified, but positive identification remained pending, so names were being withheld. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with investigators expected at the scene on Wednesday afternoon. The cause of the crash has not been determined, and the purpose and intended destination of the flight have not been officially confirmed.

(Sources: Missouri State Highway Patrol statements; FAA preliminary notice; ABC 17 News and local reporting, Nov 3-4, 2026. Photo: file image of a Cirrus SR22 of the same model, not the aircraft involved.)