A Civil Air Patrol aircraft crashed in Colorado on Saturday while conducting a training flight, leaving two people dead and one injured, according to authorities.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Saturday night that the collision on Storm Mountain, which is approximately 80 miles north of Denver, was reported just after 11 a.m.
All three passengers were discovered by responding deputies, two of whom were subsequently pronounced deceased, according to the report.
According to the sheriff’s office, the aircraft, which belonged to the Thompson Valley Composite Squadron, crashed in Larimer County while conducting aerial photography as part of a regular training operation.
The deceased were identified by Governor Jared Polis as aerial photographer Jay Rhoten and pilot Susan Wolber. The co-pilot was identified as the injured party.
Polis said the co-pilot was transported to a hospital for treatment by the Colorado Army National Guard. The survivor’s injuries were deemed “severe” by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the sheriff’s office, Larimer County Search and Rescue also arrived and was expected to stay on the scene for days overseeing recovery efforts. It stated that due to the area’s isolated location and rough terrain, recovery will take some time.
According to Polis, the people on board were Civil Air Patrol volunteers who wished to contribute to making Colorado a safer and better place for everybody.
He stated that the State of Colorado will always remember their dedication to service.
The Air Patrol’s missions “range from search-and-rescue of lost hikers or hunters, location of downed aircraft, and transport of emergency personnel or medical materials,” Polis and Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Laura Clellan said in the release.
According to National Weather Service statistics, the temperature in neighboring Fort Collins was approximately 49 degrees at the time of the collision, with calm to 7 mph north winds and 10-mile visibility.
The aircraft was identified as a Cessna 182 by the National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB.
According to the statement, the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration will assist the sheriff’s office in spearheading the investigation.
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