Tragedy struck near Storm Mountain in Larimer County when a Civil Air Patrol airplane crashed in windy conditions, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and a photographer on board. Another passenger was seriously injured in the crash.

The fatal incident occurred at 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 23, as the Cessna 182T went down near Drake, almost two hours after departing from Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Loveland. The aircraft was on a mission to capture aerial photos for Red Cross emergency response planning, as detailed in the report released by National Transportation Safety Board officials.

The pilot, Susan Wolber, and photographer, Jay Rhoten, lost their lives in the crash, while passenger Randall Settergren sustained serious injuries. Settergren recounted to NTSB investigators that the group had completed their task of flying over mountain roads and a valley in large circles, assuming they were heading back to the airport when encountering a sudden downdraft.

Settergren described how Wolber attempted to navigate the plane before it plummeted and collided with trees. The next thing he remembered was being on the ground. Settergren’s phone automatically dialed 911 upon impact, leading to his rescue by helicopter. During the rescue, he noted experiencing “winds swirling,” according to NTSB officials.

Weather data from the nearest station, located 13 miles away, indicated winds of 7 mph approximately 20 minutes before the crash. Despite operating normally throughout the flight, there were no distress calls made by the pilot, as recounted by Settergren to investigators.

NTSB officials removed the wreckage from the steep slope where the crash occurred for further examination at a secure facility.

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