ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and passenger are dead after a small plane crashed while preparing to land at an airport west of Albuquerque.
The names of the two victims weren't immediately released.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford says the single-engine Cessna 182 went down northwest of the Route 66 Casino about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
He says the pilot reported encountering icing on the plane and loss of engine power shortly before the crash.
Albuquerque Fire Rescue spokesman Tom Ruiz says the plane was planning to land at the Double Eagle II Airport when the pilot called in to say the aircraft wasn't going to make it to the runway.
Ruiz says rescue crews responded to the crash site and confirmed the deaths of the two people aboard the plane.