Father and Two Teenage Sons Killed in Plane Crash Near Swampy Pass in Colorado
Mark Hendrickson, 46, and his sons Alan, 15, and Case, 13, of New Castle died on Saturday when their single-engine Piper PA-28 crashed in the West Elk Wilderness. Investigators have given no cause.
Key points
- A father and his two teenage sons were killed on Saturday when their single-engine plane crashed into mountainous terrain near Swampy Pass in Gunnison County, Colorado, according to county…
- The plane, a Piper PA-28, went down in the West Elk Wilderness of the Gunnison National Forest at about 8:11 a.m. local time on October 24, the safety board told People.
- Emergency crews reached the remote site and found all three people on board dead.
A father and his two teenage sons were killed on Saturday when their single-engine plane crashed into mountainous terrain near Swampy Pass in Gunnison County, Colorado, according to county officials and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The plane, a Piper PA-28, went down in the West Elk Wilderness of the Gunnison National Forest at about 8:11 a.m. local time on October 24, the safety board told People. The Gunnison Regional 911 Center received a report of the crash at about 9:20 a.m., Gunnison County said in a social media post.
Emergency crews reached the remote site and found all three people on board dead. Early reports on Saturday placed the crash off Ohio Creek Road. The county's Sunday update located the wreckage near Swampy Pass, in high country that crews can reach only with difficulty.
The victims
The Gunnison County Coroner's Office identified the three as Mark Hendrickson, 46, and his sons Alan Hendrickson, 15, and Case Hendrickson, 13. All three lived in New Castle, Colorado, a town about 175 miles from Denver. The Colorado Sun reported that Mark Hendrickson was flying the plane.
The boys' aunt, Niccole Ruby Hendrickson, confirmed on Facebook that the three were a father and his sons. They are survived by Jenni Hendrickson, the boys' mother and Mark Hendrickson's wife, and by a brother and son, Coen.
In a statement shared on social media, Jenni Hendrickson said her husband and their two boys had "tragically passed away in a plane crash yesterday," and the family thanked people for the support it has received.
Gunnison County relayed that message on Sunday. "The Hendrickson family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the respect, compassion and support they have received following this devastating tragedy," county officials said. The county also offered its deepest condolences to the family.
What investigators know, and what they do not
The Gunnison County Sheriff's Office, the National Transportation Safety Board and the US Forest Service are investigating the crash. As of Sunday, October 25, investigators were still gathering information at the site, the safety board told People.
No cause has been established. Authorities have not said whether weather, terrain, mechanical failure or another factor played a role, and they have not confirmed where the flight started or where it was headed. Aviation records reported in local coverage identify the aircraft as a Piper PA-28-235 registered N8777W, but officials have not released a confirmed route for the flight.
County officials said more information about the investigation will come from the investigating agencies as it becomes available.
Timeline
- Oct 24, 2026At about 8:11 a.m. local time, a single-engine Piper PA-28 crashes into mountainous terrain near Swampy Pass in the West Elk Wilderness of the Gunnison National Forest, the National Transportation Safety Board says.
- Oct 24, 2026The Gunnison Regional 911 Center receives a report of the crash at about 9:20 a.m. Emergency crews reach the remote site and find all three people on board dead.
- Oct 25, 2026In a Sunday update, Gunnison County says the coroner has identified the three as Mark Hendrickson, 46, and his sons Alan, 15, and Case, 13, of New Castle. The safety board, the sheriff's office and the Forest Service are investigating, with no cause established.