One person killed in light plane crash near Virginia

VIRGINIA (AP) -- A rural Cook man was killed in the crash of a light plane, the St. Louis County sheriff's office said.

Michael Mellak, 64, was alone aboard the single engine 1946 Aeronca Champ when it went down 12 miles north of Virginia at about 1:40 p.m. Saturday.

It crashed near the junction of Highways 169 and 68, shortly after taking off from a private airstrip.

Mellak died at the scene.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have joined the sheriff's office in the investigation.