Ranchita

A mid-air explosion apparently caused the crash of a single-engine plane Sunday afternoon in the mountains near Ranchita, killing all three people aboard, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday.

The names of the victims were being withheld until relatives could be notified, said Lt. Bob Trevino, a spokesman for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

The plane left Palm Springs Regional Airport at 3:15 p.m. and crashed about 30 minutes later, a Federal Aviation Administration employee in Los Angeles said.

According to a preliminary investigation by the FAA, the four-seat Piper Comanche was missing its wings and tail section when it crashed a 1 1/2 miles west of San Felipe Road, which is 2 3/4 miles north of Julian.

Area residents reported hearing an explosion at 3:45 p.m. Sunday before the plane went down. The wreckage was spotted by sheriff’s deputies at 5 p.m.

The FAA said the plane lost its wings and tail and then went into a spin, crashing nose first into the rugged mountain area.

Sheriff’s and coroner’s deputies removed some body parts Monday that were scattered up to 400 yards from the crash site. They were forced to call off their investigation because of snowfall and are scheduled to continue it today.