2 pilots killed when small plane crashes into house during training flight: NTSB

Two pilots died when a small plane crashed into a house in Ohio during a training flight, exploding and causing a fire, authorities said.

The crash occurred Thursday afternoon in Akron, resulting in a "substantial post-crash fire," National Transportation Safety Board investigator Aaron McCarter said during a press briefing on Friday.

A certified training instructor and the pilot who owned the aircraft -- a 1963 Piper Cherokee single‑engine -- were on board when the plane crashed into a residence about 1 1/2 miles west of the Akron Fulton Airport, according to McCarter.

The pilots did some "standard flight training maneuvering" before attempting two approaches to the Akron Fulton Airport, McCarter said. The first approach appears to have been a go-around, and on the second approach they overflew the runway, he said.

"During that time, something upset the aircraft and the aircraft was seen by credible witnesses and doorbell cameras spiraling out of the sky for about 1,000 feet, where it impacted the road behind me and subsequently struck the house," he said.

The aircraft crashed around 3:45 p.m., according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The two occupants of the aircraft died, according to the state highway patrol. Akron Fire District Chief Sierjie Lash told ABC Cleveland affiliate WEWS on Thursday that authorities were working on getting their names from the airport.

The impacted house and a neighboring residence were evacuated, with no injuries reported to the occupants at this time, according to the Akron Fire Department. No bystanders on the ground were injured, authorities said.

A man and his two children were home when the plane crashed into their residence, McCarter said.

Lash told WEW it was "very fortunate" that they are safe.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB are investigating the crash.

McCarter said there were "pretty significant" winds at the time, gusting up to 28 mph, which will be part of the investigation.

The accident scene is "catastrophic," and it will take some time to remove the aircraft from the structure, McCarter said. Those efforts were set to begin on Friday.

McCarter said there was no black box on the aircraft, though investigators will see if there were any avionics that serve a similar purpose on the plane.

The plane will ultimately be transported to a secure facility for a "thorough" examination, he said.

A preliminary report is expected to be completed in seven to 10 days.