BIGLERVILLE, Pa. — A small plane crashed early today in a fruit-farming area north of Gettysburg, killing at least one person, state police said.

Trooper Rob Hicks said the 5:30 a.m. crash scattered debris over a quarter-mile area, and the plane was destroyed. He said there did not appear to have been a fire or explosion.

“Somebody had heard a plane that was possibly having some difficulty, but shortly thereafter they heard a crash,” Hicks said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board sent investigators to the scene.

Officials said they had no immediate information about what kind of aircraft was involved or its starting point and intended destination.

A phone message left for the Adams County coroner was not immediately returned.

Hicks said he did not know if the plane had been landing or taking off, but he was not aware of any airstrips near the scene of the crash, east of Biglerville.