Overview
- The Beechcraft King Air 90, which left Roswell for Sierra Blanca, crashed about 4 a.m. Thursday near Ruidoso.
- Search teams located the wreck in the Capitan Mountains and hiked the last half-mile to reach it.
- All four aboard died, and officials are notifying next of kin before releasing identities.
- The crash ignited a wildfire that expanded to roughly 35 acres by midday under hot, dry, gusty conditions.
- Federal investigators are probing the cause, and operator Trans Aero MedEvac confirmed the aircraft was on a medical mission.