LAKE CLEAR – State police are asking for help from any citizens who witnessed a plane crash near Saranac Lake early Friday evening that killed four people.

Police were notified at approximately 6:30 p.m. that a civilian plane that went down just north of the Adirondack Airport in Lake Clear.

Police located the downed aircraft approximately one half mile northwest of the airport and troopers and investigators responded to the crash site and found the aircraft completely destroyed.

Four people were found dead in the wreckage, police said.

Local fire departments extinguished the flames, police said.

Investigation into the cause of the crash and identification of those on board is ongoing, police added.

The scene was secured overnight pending arrival of officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Traffic Safety Board, along with the members of the Troop B Forensic Identification Unit.

to process the scene.

State police were also assisted at the scene by state Department of Environ,mental Conservation police and state Forest Rangers, the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, the Franklin County Office of Emergency Services and local airport personnel.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call state police at 518-897-2000.