A single-engine Cessna 150L crashed shortly after take-off Saturday afternoon at Merrill Field near downtown taking the lives of both of the occupants.

Both occupants, 27-year-old Jessi Nelson and 31-year-old Robert Lilly were declared deceased after being taken to the hospital.

Although the plane belonged to Lilly, it is unknown who was flying the aircrafgt when it nose-dived into the ground. The aircraft is of the type routinely used as a training plane.

Three men jumped the fence at the airfield in an attempt to extinguish the fire that broke out in the aircraft and rescue to two people in the plane before emergency personnel arrived at the scene. Although the flames were put out using fire extinguishers that the men found in other planes at the field, it was too late for the two individuals in the plane.

According to witnesses at the scene, the aircraft took off and the engine began sputtering and the plane nose-dived, crashing into the ground beyond the airfield’s fence.

The victim’s next of kin have been notified.