3 Utah men die in Texas plane crash

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PARIS, Texas, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Three men from Utah died when the small plane they were in crashed in Paris, Texas, officials said.

Michael Endo, 50, Michael Dale Bradley, 44, and Rob Thompson, 49, died Saturday morning after their Piper PA-46 took off from an airport near Paris, Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

The plane was registered to the Salt Lake City-based Celtic Bank, which said in a news release all three men were associated with the bank.

The Department of Public Safety said it believed the men were headed to Austin when they encountered foggy conditions. They attempted to turn the plane back toward the airport but began descending rapidly and crashed.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, Salt Lake City's The Deseret News reported.