FOSTORIA, Ohio — An Avon man and his co-pilot died Tuesday night after a plane crash in Ohio.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says the plane crashed in a wooded area just before 11 p.m.
Shane Alan Halbrook, 59, of Avon and co-pilot Michael D. Wright, 51, of Casey Illinois, were both pronounced dead at the scene. The Indiana Air National Guard says both men were former Guard members. They released the following statement.
"With heavy hearts, we have learned of the passing of two former Indiana Air National Guard members. Retired. Col. Shane A. Halbrook and Maj. Michael D. Wright were lost in a single-engine aircraft incident late last evening in Seneca County, Ohio.
Col. Halbrook’s last assignment was the director of joint staff for the Indiana Air National Guard.
Maj. Wright was a member of the 181st Communication Flight, 181st Intelligence Wing, Hulman Field Air National Guard Base, Indiana, prior to transferring to the Air Force Reserve at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
Please join us in a moment of silent reflection, prayer, and thoughts for their families as they deal with this devastating loss."
The Associated Press reports the single-engine plane was traveling from Illinois to Findlay, Ohio when the aircraft went down.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

NTSB is investigating the Feb. 22, crash of a Piper PA32-360 airplane near Fostoria, Ohio.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) February 23, 2022
-
Parents of transgender Hoosiers share impact of BMV gender marker rule change
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles will no longer provide customers with the option to change their gender on their Indiana credential by using a court-ordered gender change or physician's statement
North side shooting leaves person in serious condition
A person is reported to be in serious condition following a shooting on the north side of Indianapolis on Thursday.
Speedway apartment complex shows progress in sewage cleanup as fines continue
The Town of Speedway is addressing an ongoing issue involving the discovery of raw sewage on the property at an apartment complex.
Jazz, Pacers fined by NBA for player participation policy breach
The NBA also docked the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for holding out Pascal Siakam and two other starters in a Feb. 3 game against the Jazz.