Two men killed when their small plane crashes in Michigan.

Two men died this morning after a single-engine plane they were flying in crashed shortly after takeoff from Boyne City Airport, bound for Oakland/Troy Airport. Investigators withheld their names pending formal identification, but the Charlevoix County Sheriff said they are thought to be a 51-year-old and a 38-year-old from Birmingham. The cause of the crash is not yet known. Schneider said 911 operators received a call of a plane down about 7:10 a.m. Investigators found the plane in the woods about a half-mile off Addis Road east of Boyne City. It was in pieces and burning when they arrived. Temperatures of about 8 degrees with heavy winds made it difficult to reach the crash site. “Initially, we had to respond by snowmobile,” Schneider said. Later, a Charlevoix County road crew brought out a road grader and other equipment to cut a path so investigators could approach it with 4-wheel drive vehicles. The two bodies were recovered and are being taken to Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids for autopsies, Schneider said. A Federal Aviation Administration Spokesman said the plane was a Mooney M20R, a propeller-powered four-seater. A flight plan showed it was bound for Troy. What every family needs to know about wrongful death claims When a person dies as the result of a car, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, or other kind of accident, family members must deal with the tragedy as best they can. Many decisions need to be made, and a wrongful death claim needs to be filed. In Michigan, a claim can be filed by certain family members, but there are strict requirements and deadlines that must be met. It is crucial to speak with a Michigan wrongful death attorney to get necessary information and advice.