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The four men who died in a plane crash in Willoughby Hills Monday night attended Case Western Reserve University.

(Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Four men killed in a Monday night plane crash near Willoughby Hills were students at Case Western Reserve University.

William Felten, 19, of Saginaw, Michigan, Lucas Marcelli, 20, of Massillon, Abraham Pishevar, 18, of Rockville, Maryland, and John Hill, 18, St. Simons, Georgia, died in the crash.

In an email sent to university staff and students, university president Barbara Snyder confirmed that the four men attended the university.

The plane experienced engine trouble shortly after taking off and crossing Bishop Road into Willoughby Hills. Felton tried to return to the airport. The plane crashed and caught fire on impact.

All four men were trapped inside the plane and died.

Snyder said the university's counseling office will hold walk-in hours all day Tuesday to offer grief counseling. Monday was the first day of classes at the university, according to the academic calendar.

Kathie Livingston, who lives near the site of the crash, was one of several residents who saw the wreckage shortly after the plane crashed.

"The flames were white yellow," she said. "Not smoky red."