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RANDOLPH COUNTY, MO. -- Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration are trying to learn what caused a small plane to crash in a north central Missouri corn field. The pilot was killed in the crash of the crop duster. The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. Friday off County Road 1170, between Darksville and Huntsville.

"It was a crop duster. Apparently it clipped a tree and came to rest, of course, on the ground.  That's about all the information we have at this point," said Randolph County Sheriff Mark Nichols.

Nichols told KTVO weather did not appear to be a factor in the crash. The victim's name is being withheld until at least Monday.

Randolph County Coroner Gerald Luntsford told us Friday night that the pilot was burned beyond recognition so he has to be positively identified using dental records before officials release his name.

Luntsford said an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.  

Nichols said the plane was stationed in Chariton County, but the sheriff's office had not yet confirmed the name of the flying service.

Information for this story provided by The Associated Press and centralmoinfo.com