( KNZA/KAIR )-An investigation has begun into a plane crash near North Platte, Nebraska that killed four people--including two prominent businessmen from Atchison and Brown Counties.

Killed in the crash Friday afternoon were the pilot, 54-year-old Mark Bottorff, owner of Bottorff Construction of Atchison and passengers, 72-year-old Ken Babcock, owner of Babcock Sales of Hiawatha; and 39-year-old Jason Drane of St. Joseph, Missouri, operations manager for Babcock Sales.

Also killed was 53-year-old Chris Nelsen, a salesman for a grain equipment company based in York, Nebraska.

Authorities say the plane crashed shortly after taking off from North Platte’s airport and was headed to the airport in York, about 170 miles east.

Radar and radio contact was lost about 10 minutes later.

A search began when the plane didn't arrive on time at the airport in York. It was found in a remote area about 11 miles northeast of the North Platte airport.

Jerry Ernzen, vice president of operations for Bottorff Construction, said the four men had worked together for several years as contractors on grain bin projects in the area, and were doing business together Friday. He said Bottorff planned to fly Nelsen back to his hometown of York before returning to Kansas.

Ernzen described Botthorff as an experienced pilot, who'd flown for more than 30 years. He was flying the company’s twin-propeller Beechcraft Baron when it crashed.

The Associated Press reports federal investigators on Saturday combed through the wreckage.

National Transportation Safety Board Spokesman Keith Holloway said his agency, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, will study radar data, speak to any witnesses and examine the wreckage to try to determine the cause of the crash. The investigation could take up to a year.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in North Platte said there was freezing drizzle and a visibility of three miles at the time of the accident. The cloud ceiling was 900 feet.