Two people are dead after a small plane crashed near Route 66 Casino, west of Albuquerque.
New Mexico State Police, Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Albuquerque Police and the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene Tuesday afternoon around 4:30.
The plane, a Cessna 182, crashed on the Navajo Nation land near the Canoncito Reservation, off Rio Puerco Road and Trail/Route 57.
While the FAA is still trying to determine the exact cause of the crash, the agency says preliminary reports show the pilot reported icing and loss of engine power shortly before crashing. The FAA says the plane was trying to land at the Double Eagle Airport, but crashed roughly 10 to 12 miles west of the airport.
New Mexico State Police says the two passengers on board, a man and a woman, died on impact. The identities of the victims haven't been released.