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New details released on plane crash near Clarksville airport 15 minutes after solar eclipse

Witnesses reportedly said the plane appeared to lose power on one of the engines.

JOHNSON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A plane crash has been reported near the Clarksville Airport, according to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

According to a report by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crash happened on the afternoon of April 8, shortly after Clarksville experienced totality during a solar eclipse.

According to Clarksville Airport Manager Jim Looney, the plane went down about 15 minutes after the solar eclipse, and the passengers had flown into the area on a "personal" flight from Springdale to witness totality.

Witnesses reportedly saw one of the plane's engines lose power as it took off on the return trip, sending it into a curve that ended in the plane crashing in a nearby wooded area.

Looney said the pilot was able to walk out of the aircraft with a head injury, but the three passengers had to be pulled from the plane. Johnson County Sheriff Tom Hughes confirmed that all four people were sent to nearby hospitals.

The plane crash did not reportedly cause any delays at the airport.

The FAA said they will work with the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) on the investigation.

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