2 dead, 1 injured in Civil Air Patrol plane crash in Colorado, officials say
The plane crashed on Saturday while conducting a routine training mission, according to the sheriff’s office.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Two people were killed and another was severely injured after a Civil Air Patrol plane crashed in Colorado on Saturday while on a training exercise, officials said.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office, Larimer County Emergency Services, and other area partners responded to a report of a plane crash in the area of Storm Mountain, about 80 miles northwest of Denver, shortly after 11 a.m. local time on Saturday, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. Responding deputies discovered three passengers who were on board, with two confirmed dead.
The third passenger was transported to an area hospital with severe injuries, the sheriff's office said. The crash site was in a remote area that was difficult to access, according to Larimer County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Ali Adams.
“Due to terrain, recovery likely will last a few days,” Adams said.
The plane that crashed was a Cessna 182, Civil Air Patrol said in a news release shared with the Fort Collins Coloradoan, part of the Paste BN Network. The plane crashed while conducting a routine training mission, according to the sheriff’s office.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis identified the deceased as pilot Susan Wolber and aerial photographer Jay Rhoten. The injured person was identified as Randall Settergren, the plane's co-pilot, who was rescued by a Colorado Army National Guard helicopter.
Civil Air Patrol "will cooperate fully with the National Transportation Safety Board in the investigation," the news release said. Larimer County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation and will work with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
"Our people are our most important resource, and we are committed to ensuring their safety and security," a statement from Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, national commander of the organization, reads.
Crashed plane was Civil Air Patrol aircraft on routine training mission
The plane that crashed near Storm Mountain was a Civil Air Patrol aircraft out of the Thompson Valley Composite Squadron, according to Polis.
Civil Air Patrol said the plane was used for a search-and-rescue training exercise when it crashed. Authorities later specified that the exercise was focused on aerial photography.
Civil Air Patrol uses aerial photography for both search and rescue work and disaster response, Chief Growth Officer Kristina Jones told The Coloradoan.
"I’m saddened to hear of the loss of two dedicated Civil Air Patrol members, Pilot Susan Wolber and aerial photographer Jay Rhoten, who lost their lives in today’s crash and my thoughts are with their families, friends and colleagues," Polis said in a statement.
"These individuals, along with survivor co-pilot Randall Settergren, who was injured, served the Civil Air Patrol as volunteers who wanted to help make Colorado a better, safer place for all," Polis added. "The State of Colorado is grateful for their commitment to service and it will not be forgotten. I also want to thank the first responders who assisted with the rescue and recovery efforts."
The nonprofit Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. In Colorado, Civil Air Patrol missions include search-and-rescue efforts for lost hikers and hunters, locating downed aircraft, and transporting emergency personnel and medical materials, according to the governor's office.
The Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol has 39 squadrons, including cadet, composite, and senior squadrons, according to its website. The Thompson Valley Composite Squadron is based in Fort Collins.
As a composite squadron, it includes both cadets and senior members, according to the Colorado Wing website.
"The volunteers of Civil Air Patrol are a valuable part of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the lifesaving work they do on a daily basis directly contributes to the public safety of Coloradans throughout the state," Maj. Gen. Laura Clellan of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs said in a statement. "We are devastated to hear of the loss of Susan Wolber and Jay Rhoten, and the injury of Randall Settergren."
Contributing: Paste BN