2 killed in a rural western Johnson County plane crash

Two people were killed in a Friday afternoon plane crash in rural Johnson County.

The two people, whom officials have not identified, were the only passengers aboard the single-engine plane that took off from the Green Castle Airport, Johnson County Sheriff Sgt. Brad Kunkel said at the scene Friday afternoon. The airport is a small, private airfield in Oxford, about 15 miles northwest of Iowa City, near Kent Park.

The Johnson County Joint Emergency Communication Center received a report of the crash shortly after 3 p.m. Friday near 2383 IWV Road SW in Oxford, Kunkel said.

The plane was on fire when officials arrived, and the blaze was extinguished by both the Oxford and Tiffin fire departments.

There were few other details about the crash available Friday, including what caused the crash and where the plane was headed.

“At this point, we don’t know anything as far as flight plans or, really, if they had any problems or what even led to the crash,” Kunkel said.

The crash is under investigation by the sheriff's office and Iowa State Patrol. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will also assist. The Johnson County Medical Examiner was at the scene Friday, and Kunkel said autopsies will be performed.