SAN ANTONIO -- Debris littered the ground at the Legend Rock Ranch, a private ranch off of Ahern Creek Road just North of Bulverde where a single engine Beechcraft Bonanza crashed Sunday morning.

The pilot, 60 year-old Carlos McKinney Jr. of Kerrville, took off from Kerrville Municipal Airport Sunday morning along with his long time girlfriend Gary Ann Lord's two grandsons, 13-year-old Dylan Lord and 12-year-old Brenden Lord.

DPS spokesman, Trooper Jason Reyes said the three may have encountered inclement weather near Bulverde and were likely trying to make and emergency landing at nearby Kestrel Airpark.

Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft dropped off of the radar around 9000 feet and crashed around 11:30 a.m.

"Its rough terrain, lots of trees. From what I understand its very scattered.", said Trooper Reyes.

Friends said McKinney recently obtained his instrument rating, allowing pilots to fly in conditions where visibility might be an issue.

McKinney was attempting to fly to Pearland, near Houston, to drop Dylan and Brenden off at their mother's home.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board investigators are expected to arrive Monday morning to complete the investigation.