Two persons died after a small aircraft crashed in a mountainous area of Yamazoe, Nara Prefecture, on Aug. 14, sources said.

The charred bodies were found near the cockpit of the aircraft.

The aircraft, which is believed to be a U.S.-registered single-engine propeller plane, was scheduled to leave Yao Airport in Osaka Prefecture before noon and fly to Fukushima Airport, according to its flight plan.

Nara prefectural police, which received an emergency report around 12:15 p.m., are investigating the accident.

What appeared to be the aircraft's wreckage was in flames and smoke was seen rising from the site.