Small plane crashes into Tar River near Pitt-Greenville Airport

PGV Director Bill Hopper said their radar lost tracking of the single-engine plane around 8:45 a.m. He said the aircraft went down about a mile short of the runway.

Hopper said two people were seen outside the plane waving at a helicopter that was in the area.

The FAA told WITN that the Piper PA-28 crashed with two people on board.

Rescue crews are still trying to reach those on board.

Greenville Fire/Rescue Batallion Chief Jeremy Anderson said the plane went down in a wooded area next to the Tar River.

Water rescue teams were able to get to the two people, but due to swampy conditions and high water the U.S. Coast Guard was brought in to help get them back to land, Anderson said.

WITN reports the plane left Greensboro around 7:30 a.m. and was headed to Greenville for a graduation ceremony at East Carolina University.