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Following a plane crash that caused two deaths in Smith County the day before Thanksgiving, a preliminary investigation found debris and fallen branches where the plane crashed in the woods on the way to Paris, Texas.

At 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27, the plane crashed near Mineola, killing both the pilot and passenger. Texas Department of Public Safety and Smith County authorities initially responded to the scene. Afterwards, the investigation was handed over to the National Safety Transportation Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

A preliminary report reveals the route, flight conditions and the damage the airplane incurred. The plane was a Cozy MK III.

The airplane departed from Houston Southwest Airport at 5:20 p.m. toward Cox Field Airport in Paris, according to the NTSB preliminary report.

The airplane used visual flight rules (VFR) and received VFR flight following — this allows pilots to receive assistance from Air Traffic Control, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association — the report states.

While on the way to Cox Field Airport, the airplane encountered a densely forested area 60 nautical miles south of its destination. Investigators found branches 40 feet from the impacted site with 45-degree angle cuts, airplane debris and a large crater about 7 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep. The crater contained the engine and the remainder of the propeller, according to the report.

A piece of the propeller was found underneath branches. The debris extended 45 feet in a circle from the crater. The debris consisted of multiple plane parts including both rudders and pieces of the nose canards, navigation lights and the wings, according to the report.

The right navigation light was crushed, while the left navigation light remained undamaged. Despite the damage, investigators were able to identity all four corners of the airplane at the scene, according to the report.

The investigation also found the debris was on a heading — the direction which the longitudinal axis the nose of the plane is pointed, according to SKYbrary — of 150 degrees. The report notes cloud condition was clear, wind was seven knots, which is considered a gentle breeze according to the Beaufort Wind Scale, and had 10 miles of visibility, according to the report.

Investigators kept the wreckage and engine for further investigation. The full report of the investigation will be released 12 to 24 months after the incident, according to NTSB.