SYOSSET, N.Y. (AP) Officials are investigating why a small plane broke apart mid-flight, killing three people on board and scattering debris across a residential Long Island neighborhood.

National Transportation Safety Board investigator Robert Gretz says the plane's pilot reported an issue with his instrument panel before the plane crashed in Syosset Tuesday afternoon. He says it's uncommon for planes to break apart mid-flight.

Gretz says two men and a woman on board were killed. He says investigators are still collecting pieces of the plane, stretched across two miles.

Newsday reports the six-seat aircraft is registered to David Berube of Bristol, Connecticut. He's licensed to fly and land multi-engine planes but it's unclear if he was piloting the plane.

The victims' names were not released.

A preliminary report is expected within a week.