HICKORY, N.C. (AP) — Two people died Sunday when a small plane struck a power line and crashed into a western North Carolina lake, a city official said.

The crash happened at about 11:30 a.m. on Lake Hickory, said Sarah Killian, a spokesperson for the city of Hickory, about 55 miles northwest of Charlotte. 

The pilot, identified as 63-year-old Jeffrey Jay Cooley of Granite Falls, and passenger, 49-year-old Brian Miller of Hickory, were both killed in the crash, according to Noth Carolina Highway Patrol. No one else was aboard the plane.

The crash led to power outages at midday Sunday affecting at least 10,000 customers, according to local news outlets, but electricity was largely restored by early Sunday afternoon after Duke Energy said it rerouted power.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane, a single-engine Scoda Aeronautica Super Petrel, was carrying two people and crashed in the lake after departing from Hickory Regional Airport. It said the FAA will investigate with the National Transportation Safety Board, which will lead the probe.

The National Transportation Safety Board is asking anyone who witnessed the plane crash to share any relevant pictures or videos with authorities by emailing witness@ntsb.gov. 

Agencies from Alexander, Caldwell and Catawba counties responded to the crash, which occurred in the middle of the lake. Lake Hickory borders the city and the three counties. It was created by the Catawba River, which covers more than 4,000 acres and is known in part for fishing, boating and other water sports.