Two people are dead after a plane crash late this afternoon. A representative of the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department said the plane crashed just north of Highway H, two miles north of the Mt. Vernon Municipal Airport at 4:19 PM.

Seven people were aboard the plane prior to take off. When the plane started experiencing problems, four people jumped. Authorities say one woman jumped and became entangled in the plane's tail. She did not survive the crash.

Authorities also say another woman was found dead inside the plane.
Investigators say both were considered experienced jumpers.

The two woman who died in the accident have been identified as 36 year old Marnie Fuller of Walnut Grove, Mo and Jennifer Collins of Peculiar, Mo, who was born in 1975.

The pilot, Jason Rog of Springfield, born in 1975, was also in the plane when authorities arrived on scene. He was flown to a hospital with critical injuries.

The plane was operated by Freefall Express Skydiving company in Mt. Vernon, yet online FAA records also show a registered owner out of Florida. Authorities say the pilot had been with the company for a year and a half and was considered an experienced pilot.

Both Federal Aviation Association and National Transportation Safety Board officials from Kansas City, Denver and Dallas are making their way to Mt. Vernon and will begin investigating the crash Sunday morning.

The four survivors who jumped to safety from an undetermined height were said to have all experience minor injuries. They are:

- Emilee Barnett of Springfield, Mo., born in 1982
- Tabitha Perkins of Webb City, Mo., born 1989
- Heather Mehl of Springfield, Mo., born in 1985
- Tera Smith of Overland Park, Ks., born in 1978

Stay with KSPR.com and KSPR News at 10 Sunday evening for more details.