The tragic crash of a Civil Air Patrol plane in Larimer County, Colorado, on November 23, 2024, resulted in the deaths of two individuals: pilot Susan Wolber and aerial photographer Jay Rhoten. The co-pilot, Randall Settergren, sustained severe injuries but survived the incident . The aircraft was engaged in an aerial photography training exercise when it encountered challenging windy conditions near Storm Mountain. This unfortunate event highlights the inherent risks associated with aviation training exercises.
The Civil Air Patrol is an auxiliary of the US Air Force and nonprofit organization. Its Colorado wing operates in the Rocky Mountain region, conducting search and rescue operations to find lost hikers, hunters and downed aircraft, and transporting emergency personnel and medical materials.
“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,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement.
The aircraft is owned and operated by the Civil Air Patrol, according to registration information from the plane's tail number. The Civil Air Patrol is a federally chartered non-profit corporation with 60,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating what led up to the crash. The Civil Air Patrol said the plane went down during a search and rescue exercise training.
Snodgrass said he hopes to get some closure in the release of the accident report, because Wolber was a careful flyer. He said that trait makes the situation not only a tragedy, but shocking.
George Solheim lives in the area of the crash. He described conditions as "extremely windy" on Saturday and heard the plane just prior to the crash. He says he could hear "loud 'throttle up/down' immediately prior to sudden silence at (the) time of (the) crash. Couldn't hear sounds of impact from here."
Recovery efforts for the victims were complicated by difficult terrain and remote access to the crash site. Investigative bodies such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are currently examining the circumstances leading to this accident. Understanding these factors is crucial for improving safety protocols within Civil Air Patrol operations and ensuring that similar tragedies do not occur in the future .
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