Pilot and Two Sons Die in Colorado Plane Crash
A family's world was shattered when a father and his teenage sons were killed in a small plane crash in the Colorado mountains.
A father and his two teenage sons were killed when the small plane they were traveling in crashed in western Colorado. Mark Hendrickson, 46, was piloting the aircraft, with his sons Alan, 15, and Case, 13, on board.
The plane went down near Swampy Pass in Gunnison National Forest on Saturday. Gunnison County officials confirmed that all three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The family, from New Castle in Garfield County, leaves behind Jenni Hendrickson, the wife and mother, and another son, Coen.
Jenni Hendrickson shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, stating that her "entire world" was left broken by the tragedy. "I never thought I would have to write these words," she wrote. "The loves of my life and our two beautiful boys Alan and Case tragically passed away in a plane crash yesterday. Our family's world is broken." She expressed gratitude for the support and prayers from friends and family.
Alan was a participant in his high school's varsity football and baseball teams, according to the MaxPreps high school athletics database.
Mark Hendrickson held a private pilot's license, according to Federal Aviation Administration records, and was authorized to fly single-engine, fixed-wing aircraft. He had earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Pittsburgh State University and was employed as a manager at Shaw Construction LLC in Denver.
The Gunnison County Sheriff's Office, the National Transportation Safety Board, the FAA, and the US Forest Service are investigating the cause of the crash. Officials extended their condolences to the Hendrickson family during this difficult time.