Chicago Couple, Teen Injured In MI Small Plane Crash: Officials

RAY TOWNSHIP, MI — A Chicago couple and a teenager were injured when a small plane crashed Sunday afternoon in Michigan, and a dog was missing from the crash site, officials said.

A 44-year-old Chicago man and his 37-year-old wife along with a 17-year-old Georgia teenager were visiting family in Ray Township, Michigan, on Sunday afternoon, officials said.

The man, owner and pilot of the single-engine Beechcraft A36, told officials the plane's engine lost power about 100 feet up after taking off from the Ray Community Airport on Indian Trail Road just north of 27 Mile around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon, officials said.

The pilot then navigated the plane and controlled the crash into a wooded area just off the runway, officials said. All three people crawled out of the plane on their own before they were taken to a nearby hospital, officials said.

The Chicago couple was released from the hospital Monday morning after suffering broken bones, cuts and burns, officials said.

The Georgia teen remained in the hospital but was upgraded to stable condition after also suffering broken bones, cuts and burns in the crash, officials said.

A 6-month-old golden retriever was also on board and was missing after the crash, officials said.

Officials do not know what caused the plane to lose power and were still working to determine if there was some kind of mechanical failure, police said. A report will be turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.