(REUTERS) - Two first-year students at Colgate University died after a small plane crashed in Madison County, New York on Sunday.

The victims were identified as 19-year-old Ryan Adams and Cathryn (Carey) Depuy, both of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

The pair rented a single-engine Cessna plane from Hamilton Municipal Airport, but it was not clear who was piloting the plane or where they were heading to, LocalSYR reported.

The plane reportedly encountered engine problems shortly after take-off. A distress signal was sent before the plane crashed into a wooded area in the Town of Eaton, CNY Central.com reported. Both students were killed at the scene.