Rescue teams found the crash site Friday on land owned by a private timber company in Humboldt County, about 280 miles north of San Francisco.
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Hanson said he could not identify the passengers, which included three medical personnel and a patient, until next of kin have been notified.
UPDATE, 10:59 a.m.: The Office of the County Administrator says that at least two people are confirmed to have died in this crash. There is a quarter-mile mile debris field for the crash site, authorities said.
The plane was flying from Crescent City to Oakland and when the pilot declared the emergency, he indicated he was going to return to Crescent City.
The plane is part of Cal-Ore Life Flight, a small company of about six planes that transports patients throughout Northern California and Oregon, AP reported. The plane, a Piper Cheyenne II, departed Crescent City Airport for Oakland International Airport.
The plane’s pilot had radioed an emergency at about 1 a.m. PT after smoked had filled the cockpit, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.
Radar contact with the aircraft was lost about 5 miles northeast of Arcata Airport.
Don Wharton, REACH Director of Business Relations, said Friday he could not provide the identities of those on board or other details.
“It’s heartbreaking, it’s very hard”, Wharton said.
Deputies at the scene reported at least two people were killed, Hanson said. On Friday afternoon, the road where some of the wreckage landed was taped off.
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According to officials, the National Transportation Safety Board will arrive Saturday around 11:00 a.m.
