LAKEVIEW, Ark. (KMOV) -- Three people, including two St. Louis University High School students, died Friday morning in a small plane crash at a north Arkansas fishing resorts, authorities said.

Officials said the plane’s pilot, Warren W. Langford, 52, and his son, Brendan Langford, 15, both of Chesterfield were killed in the crash on an airstrip at Gaston’s White River Resort.

(PHOTOS: Ark. plane crash kills 2 SLU High School students)

Jacob Ritz, 15, of Bridgeton, Mo., was transported by ambulance to Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, Ark., where he later died of his injuries.

(VIDEO: News 4's Ray Preston reports)

The other two injured were identified as Donald Beckerle, 43, and his son, Joshua Beckerle, 15, both of Eureka, Mo.

Donald Beckerle, who is a Eureka alderman, was transported by ambulance to Baxter Regional Medical Center. He was treated and released, authorities said.

Joshua Beckerle, also a student at St. Louis University High School, was taken by medical helicopter to St. John’s Medical Center in Springfield, Mo.

A hospital spokeswoman said Saturday that Joshua was in critical but stable condition. She said the family asked that no more information be disclosed.

Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery the plane -- a single-engine Piper Cherokee Lance registered to Propaire Inc., a nonprofit organization based in St. Louis -- crashed around 9 a.m. after taking off from a turf runway.

Witnesses told the Baxter Bulletin newspaper that the aircraft wobbled and tilted from side to side as it tried to take off from the grass runway.

“We’re not sure if it didn’t gain enough altitude or if it ever gained altitude,” Montgomery said.

The plane smashed through a fence at the end of the runway and crashed into a small grove of trees alongside the White River. The plane's fuselage apparently broke away and landed about 20 feet from the wreckage.

"The aircraft contacted trees on takeoff," said Roland Herwig, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. He said agents from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board would investigate.

In 2002, a small plane crashed shortly after taking off from the airstrip, killing all three on board.