An organization made up of pilots who help carry out emergency services has lost “two key members” after a plane crash in the Colorado mountains.
A third Civil Air Patrol (CAP) crew member – co-pilot Randy Settergren – survived with “serious” injuries, while pilot Susan Wolber and aerial photographer Jay Rhoten both died at the scene.
The cause of the Saturday morning crash 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Denver remains to be seen, and saw Settergren airlifted to a local hospital.
It happened during a routine training mission that involved taking aerial photographs, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday evening.
Officers remained at the crash site on Storm Mountain well into Sunday, with plans to remain there for several days.
The sheriff’s office attributed this to the remote and rugged nature of the crash site, which delayed recovery efforts.
The area is mountainous and heavily forested, making it perfect for practice search and rescue missions like the one the trio engaged in.
However, the plane crashed around 11 a.m., prompting a statement from Colorado’s governor. He confirmed that the single-engine plane belonged to CAP – the air force’s civilian auxiliary wing – and identified those who had been on board.
A plane crash Saturday in the Colorado mountains killed Susan Wolber, a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) pilot, and fellow member Jay Rhoten (not pictured). The group consists of volunteer pilots who help carry out emergency missions on behalf of the government
A third Civil Air Patrol (CAP) crew member – co-pilot Randy Settergren – survived with “serious” injuries and was taken from the scene. He also volunteers for CAP, the civilian auxiliary wing of the Air Force
“I am saddened to learn that two dedicated members of the Civil Air Patrol, pilot Susan Wolber and aerial photographer Jay Rhoten, were killed in today’s crash,” Gov. Jared Polis wrote Saturday, offering condolences to the families of the victims.
“These individuals, along with surviving 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 everyone.
“The State of Colorado is grateful for their commitment to service and this will not be forgotten.
“I would also like to thank the first responders who assisted in the rescue and recovery efforts.”
Terry Thompson, a former Air Force member who now volunteers as an aerial photographer for the unit, added in his own message: “We lost two key members of our CAP squadron today.
‘A third crew member was seriously injured and is recovering in hospital.
“Their absence will be painfully felt,” the veteran added. “Clear skies and tailwind, comrades.”
DailyMail.com has reached out to Thompson for comment.
The cause of the Saturday morning crash 80 miles north of Denver remains to be seen. The plane can be seen here. It had been on a routine training mission when it crashed
A man who lives nearby expressed sadness that it had been “extremely windy” the morning of the crash, and how he could hear the sound of the single-engine Cessna accelerating before there was “sudden silence.” Investigators said they were still recovering the bodies of the deceased on Sunday
George Solheim, who lives near the crash site, further told CBS News that it had been “extremely windy” that morning, and how he could hear the sound of the single-engine Cessna accelerating before “sudden silence at the moment of the crash’. (the) crash.
‘[I] I couldn’t hear any sounds of impact here,” he added.
A spokeswoman for the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Ali Adams, added that as of Sunday, emergency services efforts to retrieve the bodies were still ongoing.
The sheriff’s office said it will lead the ongoing investigation, albeit with assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In its own statement, the NTSB confirmed that the plane was a Cessna 182. The aircraft can transport four people at the same time.