Police car lightsThe National Transportation Safety Board has been called in to investigate a plane crash that left one person dead Wednesday in South Central Iowa.

At 12:34 Wednesday afternoon, Air Traffic Controllers in Des Moines contacted Sheriff’s Departments in South Central Iowa advising that an airplane had lost radar contact. Authorities in Lucas and Monroe counties spent much of Wednesday afternoon searching for the downed airplane.

The plane was located in a remote area of Northeast Lucas County almost five hours after being reported missing.The aircraft involved is reported to be a Piper PA-46, a small aircraft capable of carrying five passengers plus a pilot.

The Lucas County Sheriff’s Department says the pilot was the only occupant of aircraft. He did not survive the crash. and his name has not been released his identification.

(By Nick Davis, KBIZ, Ottumwa)