FIVE GERMANS WERE KILLED WHEN THEIR SMALL PLANE CRASHED ON THE ITALIAN ISLAND OF ELBA IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA SUNDAY EVENING, ACCORDING TO DPA. THE SINGLE-ENGINE PIPER 46 PLANE GOT INTO DIFFICULTIES SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND CRASHED KILLING ALL FIVE PASSENGERS ONBOARD. THE ACCIDENT WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY ENGINE FAILURE, THE ITALIAN AUTHORITIES SAID. THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT WERE UNCLEAR. THE PLANE TOOK OFF IN GOOD WEATHER FROM MARINA DI CAMPO AIRPORT IN THE DIRECTION OF GERMANY. WITNESSES SAID SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE ENGINE DIRECTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND THAT THE PILOT HAD TRIED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD.
