Searchers have located a small plane that disappeared during a flight to Arkansas, and officials say both occupants died in the crash in North Carolina's rugged western mountains.

Maj. John Maxfield of the Civil Air Patrol said the wreckage was found about 9:10 a.m. Tuesday near Cold Mountain in the Shining Rock Wilderness Area.

Maxfield said the plane left Rutherford County's airport about 5:00 a.m. Monday on its way to North Little Rock Airport. A locator beacon guided searchers - three airplanes, a Highway Patrol helicopter and four ground teams - to the area.

Maxfield said the victims were identified as the pilot, the Rev. Forrest Pollock, and his son, Preston Pollock, both of Brandon, Florida.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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