Search crews discovered a small plane crashed in the woods of southwest Kentucky and four dead Friday after a distressed seven-year-old girl showed up at a nearby residence asking for help, telling the resident she had survived the accident.
Federal Aviation Administration authorities say the small Piper PA-34 plane lost contact approximately 5:55 p.m. CST with air traffic control after reporting engine trouble, the Associated Press relayed.
Kentucky State Police say a caller reported seeing a plane go down around 6:30 p.m. KFVS reports. The caller also told authorities a young girl had shown up at his residence saying she had survived the crash and trudged through the woods to the home seeking help.
Sgt. Dean Patterson of the Kentucky State Police said, “It’s a miracle in a sense that she survived it, but it’s tragic that four others didn’t,” according to the AP.
Appearing emotionally distressed, the young girl was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The plane was found some two hours later in a heavily wooded area off Buckberry Trail, near KY 810 South in Lyon County. The pilot and three others were found dead at the scene. According to NBC News, Kentucky State Police identified the deceased as the girl’s parents, Marty and Kimberly Gutzler, as well as the girl’s sister, Piper Gutzler, and cousin, Sierra Walder. The survivor’s name has not been released.
Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana