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Family of 4 killed in plane crash in rugged terrain near Glenwood Springs

Posted at 1:34 PM, Sep 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-17 16:53:08-04

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. – A family of four, two adults and two children, were found dead among the wreckage of a small plane crash near Glenwood Springs Saturday morning.

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office says the single-engine plane took off from Fort Collins Friday evening and was flying to Moab, Utah when it disappeared below radar near Baxter Peak, 15 miles north of Glenwood Springs.

The Cirrus SR22 crashed under unknown circumstances shortly after air traffic control lost contact with the plane. The victims’ identities have yet to be released. 

Garfield County authorities were notified of the missing plane Friday evening and immediately began searching the area for any signs of the aircraft.

The sheriff’s office says low hanging clouds dampened initial search efforts, but the downed plane was eventually spotted from the air around 11:30 a.m. Saturday. 

A large debris field marked the spot where the plane crashed. Aerial search crews were able to land near the crash site and confirmed that no one had survived. 

Ground crews were working Saturday to get to the scene to begin the investigation and recover the bodies.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the cause of the crash.