GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating a plane crash in northwest Ohio that killed three Nebraskans earlier this week.

The fatal crash happened Thursday evening as the plane was preparing to land in Findlay about 23 miles away.  All three people aboard the plane were from Grand Island, and all three died in the crash.

The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office says 59-year-old Dr. Michael McCarty was flying the plane, which was registered to Orthopedics Aviation Services.

The other people in the plane were 65-year-old Wayne Weiss and his wife, 62-year-old Rosalee Weiss.

Family members say McCarty was traveling to New Jersey to visit a daughter, and the Weiss’ were on vacation. McCarty was an orthopedic surgeon in Grand Island.