ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- 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 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, Fla.

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

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- Airplanes are searching the North Carolina mountains for a missing plane that last was seen when it took off on a flight to Arkansas.

Maj. John Maxfield of the Civil Air Patrol said Tuesday the small plane left Rutherford County's airport about 5 a.m. Monday on its way to the North Little rock Airport, where it never arrived.

Maxfield said the single-engine Piper PA-32-260 was piloted by Forrest Pollock of Brandon, Fla., and carried one passenger. Maxfield said a locator beacon showed the aircraft was in the rugged mountains of western North Carolina, but the precise site hasn't been located.

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