This is a developing story and was updated Dec. 27 at 10 p.m.

A sign greets guests to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park outside Gatlinburg, Tenn. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States.

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GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Authorities say a small plane with three people aboard has crashed in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, and no one survived.

A reconnaissance flight by the Tennessee Army National Guard found the plane inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.

A release from the National Park Service says the three on the plane were 41-year-old David Starling, 42-year-old Kim Smith and 8-year-old Hunter Starling, all from Bradford County, Florida.

The Cessna 182 aircraft was in route to the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport on Monday when it disappeared.

The Federal Aviation Administration says a family member contacted the agency when the flight didn't arrive as expected.

The victims will be recovered from the crash site Wednesday and their identities need to be confirmed.

Closer to home A small plane crashed near South Pittsburg, Tenn., on the state line between Jackson County, Ala., and Marion County late Tuesday afternoon.



The passengers, a man and a woman, sustained minor injuries and were attended to by emergency responders. At 6 p.m. the plane still could be seen from Highway 72 on its top in a field just south of the Tennessee state line.



Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office said the pilot tried to put the plane down in the field but the aircraft flipped.

Stay with the Times Free Press as more information becomes available.