BERLIN, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- A small plane crashed into a crowd while attempting to land on the mountain of Wasserkuppe in the central German state of Hesse on Sunday, killing three people and injuring five others, local media reported.

A single-engine Cessna broke through a barrier and rolled into a crowd on the edge of the airfield after a failed landing, according to a report carried by Focus.online.

The three dead included two adults and a boy aged around ten, and the plane was reportedly to be privately owned.

The weather was fine at the time of the accident, and the cause of the accident remains unclear.

According to media reports, four passengers in the plane have been taken to hospital, and an eyewitness suffered a severe shock.

The mountain is known to be a popular site for paragliders and light aircraft enthusiasts.