Father and Two Teenage Sons Killed in Small Plane Crash in Remote Colorado Mountains

A father and his two teenage sons were killed when their small plane crashed in a remote wilderness area of Colorado, leaving their family devastated as investigators work to determine what happened.

Mark Hendrickson, 46, and his sons Alan, 15, and Case, 13, died in the crash on Saturday, October 24, 2026, according to authorities. The family lived in New Castle, Colorado.

The aircraft went down near Swampy Pass in the West Elk Wilderness of Gunnison National Forest. The Gunnison Regional 911 Center received a report of the crash at approximately 9:20 a.m. local time. Emergency crews later reached the wreckage and found all three occupants dead at the scene.

The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the crash occurred shortly after 8:10 a.m. The aircraft was identified as a single-engine Piper PA-28. Investigators have not yet determined what caused it to go down.

The tragedy was confirmed by the family. In a statement shared on social media, the boys’ mother, Jenni, expressed her grief over losing her husband and two sons. The family also thanked the community for the compassion and support it had received following the crash.

Gunnison County officials extended their condolences to the family and said additional information would be released by the appropriate agencies as it became available.

The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, the NTSB and the U.S. Forest Service are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. No official cause has been announced.

For the family, the investigation continues amid an unimaginable loss. For now, many of the questions surrounding the flight and the moments leading up to the crash remain unanswered.

Source:  DAILYMAIL