3 killed in small plane crash in Utah

Searchers found the wreckage of a small plane in the Utah desert several hours after it was reported missing Thursday and discovered three bodies inside, the sheriff's office said.

Officials were still trying to identity the two men and one woman killed and determine why the Piper Cherokee crashed, Tooele County spokesman Wade Mathews said.

The wreckage was found about 2 miles north of Interstate 80 near Clive in Utah's west desert, Mathews said.

The plane had left a small airport in Tooele County near the Utah-Nevada border and was supposed to arrive in Salt Lake City about 9 p.m. Wednesday, Mathews said. It was reported overdue at 1:35 a.m. Thursday, and the Utah Civil Air Patrol was called to help find it, he said.

The aircraft is registered to Cherokee Flyers Inc. of Murray, a Salt Lake City suburb, according to federal records. Mathews said the Federal Aviation Administration would investigate.