The 29-seat plane was operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines, a two-year-old company that provides United Airlines with commuter service under the United Express name. The flight left Dulles at 9:45 p.m. for the 90-minute flight to Columbus.

Atlantic Coast identified the dead as passengers David Ryerson, of Akron, Ohio, and William Sallach, of Canal Winchester, Ohio; and Capt. Derrick White, First Officer Anthony Samuels and flight attendant Manuela Walker, all Dulles-based crew members.

Map,,Brad Wye CAPTION: FATAL PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATED; An aviation official photographs the tail of a commuter plane that crashed Friday near the Columbus, Ohio, airport. Five people were killed and three survived. The crash occurred about 90 minutes after the plane left Dulles International Airport. (This photo ran in earlier edition.)