(AP) _ Authorities say a plane that crashed in southwestern Arkansas and killed two National Guardsmen on board was trying to return to the airport immediately after takeoff.Ouachita County Sheriff’s Capt. Adam LaDuke told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the pilot apparently made a hard turn to return to Camden Municipal Airport immediately after the wheels left the ground Sunday.
The plane crashed and burned in a grassy area near the airport, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) southwest of Little Rock.
The Arkansas National Guard on Tuesday identified the guardsmen killed in the crash as chief warrant officers Rufus Ferron Brown of Arkadelphia and Justin Levon Ashley of North Little Rock. The two were off-duty and not performing in a military capacity.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
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