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Victims identified in Lakeside plane crash that caused brush fire

New information emerged Sunday about a plane crash that sparked a brush fire in the East County.

LAKESIDE (CBS 8/CNS) - Representatives from Sky Combat Ace on Monday identified two men whose plane crashed and sparked a fire over the weekend in Lakeside.

According to an email from the company, which operates out of the Las Vegas area and Gillespie Field, the plane was being flown by instructor Peter Gillcrist and his passenger was Garrett Engler. 

The single-engine propeller plane crashed about 4:15 p.m. Saturday in an area north of the El Capitan Reservoir, the medical examiner's office said. The crash was assumed to have killed both men on board and sparked a brush fire that was extinguished Saturday night.

Because of the blaze, medical examiner's officials weren't able to survey the crash site until Sunday.

"Debris consistent with the plane was located," the medical examiner's office said. "Human remains were found and recovered on (Sunday)."

The flames blackened an estimated 15 to 20 acres on Saturday, sheriff's officials said. Authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to investigate the plane crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported an EXTRA EA 300 plane with two people on board was missing after taking off from Gillespie Field in El Cajon.

An investigator with the NTSB arrived on scene Sunday to start the process of figuring out what went wrong.  

Federal records show the plane's tail number, given to News 8 by the NTSB, is registered to KD Leasing in Henderson, Nevada.   

It appears frequently on the website of Sky Combat Ace, which offers thrill seekers the chance to ride as a passenger or even perform their own aerobatic stunts from the pilot's seat.   

There are several videos online showing this same plane in action over Las Vegas and the East County.   

Residents say they often see pilots performing stunts near the reservoir.   

On its website, the company says "safety has always been the #1 priority at SCA." 

The NTSB is looking for witnesses of Saturday's small plane crash. Anyone with info is asked to call 202-314-6290 or email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov. 

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