Pilot, 63, and passenger, 73, are both killed in horrifying plane crash in Virginia woods

Two men have died in a fiery plane crash in Virginia and officials have asked the public for help locating parts of the aircraft.

Pilot John Latham, 63, and his passenger, Niiben C.A. Ayivorh, 73, had taken off from the Manassas Regional Airport Sunday morning for Georgetown, South Carolina.

Residents near the 200 block of Miles Jackson Rd. in Palmyra called police around 9 a.m. to report seeing a low-flying airplane and hearing an explosion.

Video shared to Facebook showed clouds of dark smoke rising from the crash and dozens of emergency vehicles rushing to the scene. 

'This was terrifying. I was outside when I heard the explosion in the sky and the plane coming down and then you could hear it crashing through the trees and then another explosion when it hit,' said resident Elyse Wood.

Pilot John Latham, 63, and his passenger, Niiben C.A. Ayivorh, 73, died in a fiery plane crash in Virginia on Sunday

Dozens of first responders came out when residents near the 200 block of Miles Jackson Rd. in Palmyra reported seeing a low-flying airplane and hearing an explosion

The Fluvanna County Sheriff's Office, Virginia Conservation Police and Virginia State Police responded located the aircraft, which was on fire, in a densely wooded area.

Fire companies from Palmyra, Fork Union, Kents Store and Lake Monticello worked to extinguish the fire.

Photos show the remains of the privately owned, crumbled twin-engine 1975 Rockwell Aero Commander 690A covered in smoke and ashes.

Neither of the men survived the crash and their remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond for examination and autopsy. 

The cause of the crash has not been determined. Virginia State Police said there was a light rain at the time of the crash.  

Video shared to Facebook showed clouds of dark smoke rising from the crash

Investigators are trying to find missing parts from the plane and are asking for help locating them

'If you live in the area affected by the plane crash (Courthouse Road, Oak Creek Road, Miles Jackson Road) and you locate a piece of the wreckage, contact the sheriffs office immediately and please do not disturb it,' the Kents Store Volunteer Fire Company said.

Investigators told WSET they are trying to find missing parts from the plane and are asking for help locating them.

'The National Transportation Safety Board is seeking assistance with the recovery of an engine, propeller and other airframe parts that separated from an airplane that crashed near Palmyra, Virginia, in Fluvanna County on Sunday morning,' the agency said.

'The Rockwell Commander 690 was flying north to south on a route near Miles Jackson Road when parts started to separate from the airplane. Some airplane parts have already been recovered in that area in a debris field that stretches to nearly three miles.'