SANTA TERESA, N.M. -- New Mexico State Police will be guarding the scene of a fatal plane crash at the Santa Teresa Airport throughout the night. Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to show up at noon Sunday, to conduct a full investigation.

The four-seater propel engine aircraft went down in the desert area of the Santa Teresa Airport around 5 p.m. Saturday. Officer Joe Ballesteros, of the New Mexico State Police said the crash killed the two men on board. He said one of the men was partially ejected, and the position of the bodies appeared to indicate the men were trying to climb out of the plane.

The two hikers who saw the crash said the plane took-off straight into a thunderstorm, but quickly plunged. They said the plane slid several feet and caught fire.

Initially, the Santa Teresa and La Union Fire Departments thought they were responding to a brush fire. Firefighters found the plane burned down to its frame.

Ballesteros said the plane was registered to ST Incorporated from Peoria, Arizona. Officials haven't been able to identify the victims, but said they appeared to be Caucasian. Officials obtained a credit card receipt from earlier in the day when the men had bought fuel and had the plane serviced. Ballesteros said the receipt was signed by ‘Michael,’ but the last name was not legible.

It's unknown if the men were participating in Saturday's Land of Enchantment Fly-In at the Santa Teresa Airport. Officials said no one at the event seemed to know of anyone leaving.