AMARILLO, Texas (AP) -- Authorities say a small plane crash in Amarillo killed two people after plummeting into a field shortly after takeoff.

The crash happened Friday night during high winds in the Texas Panhandle. The Texas Department of Public Safety says the plane went down only 20 miles from the Amarillo airport where pilot Kelly O'Neal stopped to pick up 79-year-old passenger Robert O'Neal.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Authorities say the pilot was from Colorado Springs, Colo. Robert O'Neal was from Amarillo.