Illinois State University associate head coach among 7 dead in plane crash

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (KABC) -- Illinois State associate head coach Torrey Ward was among seven people killed when a small plane crashed in Illinois near the Bloomington airport.

The Cessna 414 left Indianapolis on Monday around 11 p.m. CT. Peoria air traffic control contacted the Central Illinois Regional Airport around 12:15 a.m. Tuesday because the plane's flight plan had not been closed.

After determining the plane had not landed at the airport, several local agencies helped search the area. About three hours later, the wreckage was located in a farm field about one mile northeast of the airport near Rt. 9 and McLean County Road 2100 East.

"Upon arrival of rescue personnel, it was determined there were no survivors," according to a release from the McLean County Sheriff's Department.

The McLean County coroner pronounced all seven occupants of the plane dead at 4:15 a.m. University President Larry Dietz confirmed Ward and Aaron Leetch, the athletic department's deputy director for external relations, were killed in the crash.

A family member identified a third victim as Scott Bittner, 42, of Towanda, Illinois.

The group was on the way back from the NCAA basketball tournament in Indianapolis when the plane went down in foggy conditions.

Officials with the NTSB and FAA have been called to investigate.

Bittner is married with two children, ages 10 and 12. He owned a meat processing plant in Eureka, Illinois, which butchers livestock, including beef, pork, lambs and goats.

"He was awful good to me and my family," Terry Wertz, who works at Bittner's Meta Co., said. "If I needed anything, he'd do anything for you."

Wertz said the plane belongs to Bittner's father, and was primarily used for business trips.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.