A Civil Air Patrol training flight ended in tragedy Saturday when a crash in Larimer County killed the pilot and an aerial photographer, while leaving the co-pilot seriously injured, Colorado state officials announced.
Pilot Susan Wolber and photographer Jay Rhoten died in the accident, while co-pilot Randall Settergren was airlifted by Colorado Army National Guard helicopter to receive medical treatment, according to a statement from Governor Jared Polis’s office.
“The State of Colorado is grateful for their commitment to service and it will not be forgotten,” Polis wrote on social media platform X. “I also want to thank the first responders who assisted with the rescue and recovery efforts.”
The aircraft was conducting a routine training mission when the incident occurred. The Civil Air Patrol, operating as the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, maintains a nationwide force of 60,000 volunteer members and 550 aircraft, performing crucial homeland security and emergency response functions.
The organization plays a vital role in continental U.S. inland search and rescue operations, with the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center crediting it with saving an average of 70 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also conduct disaster relief and drug interdiction missions when requested by federal, state and local agencies.
