Fire destroyed plane that crashed near Ellijay

ATLANTA - Federal authorities say a preliminary investigation shows that a plane that crashed into a north Georgia mountain had its right wing low when it collided with a tree about 50 feet above the ground and was destroyed by fire.

The accident happened during a sight-seeing trip, but the preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board does not indicate what caused the Beechcraft Bonanza to crash May 30 in the Ellijay area of north Georgia.

The four people on the flight were friends who had gathered in north Georgia for the 50th reunion for the Gilmer County High School class of 1961.

Gilmer County Coroner Jerry Hensley identified them as pilot Phil Key of Pataskala, Ohio; Patricia Smith, of Ellijay, and a couple, Woody and Mattie Pierce of Ellijay.