FRANKLIN, N.C. — A small plane crashed near a western North Carolina elementary school on Thursday, but luckily, no students or staff were hurt.

According to the Macon County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened on the property neighboring Iotla Valley Elementary School in Franklin.

WSPA in Spartanburg reports that the Federal Aviation Administration said a Cirrus SR225 crashed into a field around 3 p.m. on Thursday with three people on board. The status of the plane's occupants is unclear at this time.

The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and the North Carolina Highway Patrol are all investigating the accident.

Iotla Elementary School is less than five miles away from the Macon County Airport. Airport officials said "no comment" when asked abou

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