A Utah man and an 11-year-old girl from Tucson died after their small plane crashed Wednesday afternoon northeast of the Show Low Regional Airport in a remote area near Long Lake, according to fire officials.

The pilot was identified as 40-year-old David A. Gillette of Utah, and the passenger was identified as 11-year-old Lorelai Johansen of Tucson, the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District stated on its Facebook page. Families of both the pilot and passenger were notified, officials said.

The two were aboard a Vans RV-6A aircraft when it crashed and caught fire near Show Low Regional Airport around 4:45 p.m., according to Tammy L. Jones, a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Show Low police referred people to the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District's Facebook page for updates. 

The Fire Department said in a Facebook post that it sent an "Aircraft Rescue Foam truck" along with multiple fire engines and crews to the heavily damaged plane which had caught fire. 

The department didn't say how the crash occurred or whether anyone was injured or killed as next of kin had yet to be notified. The National Transportation Safety Boardand FAA will investigate the crash, and the investigation will be led by the NTSB.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.

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