Three individuals tragically lost their lives on Sunday afternoon in a small plane crash in western Massachusetts, according to state police. The Massachusetts State Police were alerted to the incident at around 11:45 a.m. at the Leyden Wildlife Area on Country Club Road in Greenfield.

Authorities swiftly responded to the scene after receiving the notification. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed their involvement in the investigation of the crash, which involved a Beechcraft Baron 55 twin-engine airplane. The incident occurred around 12:24 p.m., close to the Greenfield town line.

Both the FAA and the NTSB have confirmed that three individuals were on board the aircraft, and sadly, there were no survivors, as confirmed by the Greenfield police. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed, and state police are currently in the process of notifying the families.

Detectives and crime scene services personnel from the state police are actively processing and documenting the crash site. To facilitate the investigation, Greenfield police have requested that members of the public avoid the area near Oak Hill Acres Road.

The NTSB will lead the investigation into the crash, with support from the FAA. An NTSB investigator is scheduled to arrive at the scene on Monday to carefully document the site and examine the aircraft.

The NTSB investigation will encompass various aspects, including the pilot's background and experience, aircraft maintenance records, flight track data, air traffic control communications, and weather and lighting conditions at the time of the incident. The investigator will also seek witness statements, analyze electronic devices, and review any available surveillance video, including footage from doorbell cameras.

The NTSB has explicitly stated that it will refrain from speculating about the cause of the crash. Instead, the agency will provide a detailed final report within the next 12-24 months, which will outline the probable cause and any contributing factors behind the tragic accident.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or possesses relevant information or surveillance video footage is urged to contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.

The community mourns the loss of these three lives and awaits further updates from the ongoing investigation into this devastating plane crash in western Massachusetts.