Update: Names released of two dead in Ely Township plane crash

We have new information on the fatal plane crash that took place Monday night in Ely Township.

Names of the victims have been released. Dean Honkala, 49, and William Brewer, 48, were killed when the plane they were in crashed near a private grass landing field a quarter mile off County Road CD. Both men were from Ishpeming.

State police are still investigating and the cause of the crash is not yet known.

"The investigation is still ongoing, the plane did come down with a lot of front end damage, it appears it took a nose dive with the amount of damage to the front of the plane," said Michigan State Police Sgt. Brent Rosten.

The FAA and NTSB are also working on the investigation. We will have more on the crash as it becomes available.

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A small single-engine plane crashed at 8:07 p.m. Monday in Ely Township off County Road CD and County Road 581.

The plane went down near a private grass landing strip. Officials confirmed two people were on board at the time of the crash.

At least one of the two people was flown by Valley Med-Flight helicopter to UP Health System Marquette.

What caused the crash is unknown. The names and conditions of those involved are being withheld pending notification of family members.

The Michigan State Police are leading the investigation but the F.A.A and the N.T.S.B have been contacted as well.

Also on the scene were the Marquette County Sheriff, the Marquette County Sheriff Search and Rescue, Marquette County 131, Valley Med-Flight, Ishpeming Township Fire Department, UP Health System Marquette Ambulance, and Ishpeming Township Police.

Residents in the area also helped with their side-by-side ATV's ferrying equipment and officials to the scene. The plane went down in a clear cut area about a quarter mile off County Road CD.