Witnesses said a helicopter was flying low when it began to have control problems. Wind as strong as 40 mph also could have been a factor in Monday's crash, according to Greg Reibel, spokesman for the Cottage Grove Police Department.

Pilot Scott A. Greenan, 33, of St. Paul, Minn., and Brian R. Freund, 28, of Edina were killed when their helicopter crashed in a cornfield in this St. Paul suburb. The five-seat Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger helicopter burst into flames, starting a grass fire.

National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Association officials are investigating.

Greenan began flying for ABC affiliate KSTP-TV several years ago and provided aerial footage for spot news stories, including last week's LearJet crash that killed golfer Payne Stewart in Mina, S.D.

The helicopter was owned by EAC Helicopters, a flight-leasing firm based in St. Paul that is owned by Roger Greenan, the pilot's father. The elder Greenan has flown for KSTP for more than two decades.

Freund was riding along to log hours for his own helicopter pilot certification, KSTP news director Scott Libin said.