ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- A small, fixed-wing airplane crashed near the Fairview community on Tuesday afternoon, Buncombe County Emergency Management said.

The airplane crashed near the intersection of Bethany Church Road and Upper Brush Creek Road at about 5:20 p.m.

Officials said that two people were on board the airplane bound for Asheville Regional Airport when it had engine trouble, clipped a tree, crashed into a field, nose-first, and then flipped onto its top.

"The airplane itself, the fuselage area, is pretty intact," said Lt. Ross Dillingham of the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office. "The wings and tail are really damaged and the nose itself."

The occupants James Hastings and James Monroe were listed in serious but stable condition at a local hospital.

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to investigate the crash on Wednesday morning.