Two people were killed Thursday morning after a small airplane crashed behind a house after taking off from Athens-Ben Epps airport just before 11:30.

The plane, a black Fuji LM-1, crashed just off Barnett Shoals Road and Lexington Road into the backyard of a home at 265 Johnson Drive. David S. Garber, 81 and Scott Alan Strong, 47, both of Lady Lake, Fla. were killed in the crash. The plane belonged to Mr. Garber under an Athens address.

Rafael Wilson Valiente was on the scene after the crash and ran up to the plane to try and save Garber and Strong, he told The Red & Black.

The Federal Aviation Administration is on route from Atlanta to investigate the crash. Authorities have not touched the crash site. The plane landed in the woods behind the house on Johnson Drive, close to a property line.

Ronnie Smith, who lives next door at 275 Johnson Drive, was in the woods where the plane crashed this morning and said he often sees planes 20 or 30 feet above as they come and go from Ben-Epps.

Authorities blocked the area to traffic, and the crash is under investigation.

Daniel Barnett contributed to this story.

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