WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- A small plane crashed into a neighborhood of Sioux Falls, U.S. state of South Dakota, on Tuesday, killing at least one person and affecting several homes, authorities said.

The crash took place around 5 p.m. local time (2300 GMT) and the person on the plane was dead, Sioux Falls Emergency Manager Regan Smith told a press conference.

Smith said four homes were affected by the crash, two of which sustained heavy damage.

Local police were continuing to search the scene as "there may be more fatalities to come," Smith added.

A team from the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash.