The twin-engined aircraft crashed in flames at Cottrellville Township, 64km (40 miles) north of Detroit in Michigan.

The BBC's Toby Sealey reports

Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were en route to the scene of the accident, according to a member of the Michigan State Police.

The Beech King Air crashed less than a mile from Marine City Airport at 0820 local time, the police said.

An eyewitness quoted by news agencies said he heard the plane taking off from Marine City Airport, then heard the engine go dead.

A second or two later, he said, he heard a loud crash.

The plane was only delivered to the club in May

The aircraft broke into small pieces on impact. The cause of the crash is unknown.

"There wasn't much left of it, it was pretty well twisted," a witness told reporters. "It was completely on fire."

Police say there were nine skydivers and the pilot on board.

The plane's passengers are reported to be members of the Parahawks, a skydiving group that has been using the airport for jumps for several years.