Downed Plane Removed From Boulder County After Oct. 4 Crash
A targeted removal by federal and local teams protected public safety while preserving evidence for the NTSB investigation.
Overview
- A single-engine fixed-wing aircraft that left Longmont Airport crashed in rugged terrain south of the Flatirons on Oct. 4, killing 43-year-old Aaron Gingrich and 3-year-old Isabella Gingrich.
- A private contractor working with the National Transportation Safety Board carried out the removal operation on Thursday, closing multiple trails and restricting flights to allow safe access to the remote wreckage site.
- Local partners that assisted the extrication included the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Unit.
- Trail closures began at 6 a.m. and were expected to lift around 5 p.m. for named routes such as Bear Peak, Shadow Canyon and South Mesa, with temporary flight restrictions applying to manned aircraft and drones.
- The NTSB leads the probable-cause probe with support from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, and investigators have not yet released a cause so the formal inquiry and evidence review continue.