3 dead in midday collision of planes near San Diego

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Authorities say three people are dead following the midair collision and crash of two small planes near an airport in southern San Diego County.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says the collision occurred around 11 a.m. Sunday about 2 miles northeast of Brown Field Municipal Airport.

Sheriff's Lt. Jim Bolwerk says three fatalities have been reported. He did not have details on the victims but said they were apparently on the planes.

Gregor says both planes - a twin-engine Sabreliner and a single-engine Cessna 172 - were inbound to Brown Field at the time of the crash.

Bolwerk says crews extinguished small fires sparked in dry brush at the crash site.

Brown Field is about 15 miles southeast of downtown San Diego, near the border with Mexico.