Two men die in crash of experimental plane near South Sound Speedway

Two men died Friday in a plane crash in the hills above South Sound Speedway near Rochester.

West Thurston Regional Fire Authority Captain Lanette Dyer said the men were in their mid 20s to 30s and were flying an experimental home-built open cockpit plane.

Dyer said it is unclear where the plane took off from, but it was heading south when it crashed about 3 miles off Old Highway 99.

The crash was witnessed by logging company workers in the area who called 911 at about 11:30 a.m. Both men were dead by the time emergency crews reached the scene.

The men’s names were not released. Dyer said it is unclear if either man was a licensed pilot.

The Federal Aviation Administration was notified and investigators are en route to lead the investigation.

This story was originally published September 14, 2018 at 12:08 PM with the headline "Two men die in crash of experimental plane near South Sound Speedway."