Three die in Colorado mid-air crash
February 7th, 2010 - 2:33 pm ICT by BNO NewsBOULDER, COLORADO (BNO NEWS) — At least three people were killed in a mid-air collision near Boulder Municipal Airport in Boulder County, Colorado on Saturday, officials said.
The accident happened around 1.30 p.m. local time when a small plane hit a second aircraft towing a glider. It happened about two to three miles northwest of Boulder Municipal Airport.
Boulder Rural Fire Department Chief Bruce Mygatt and Commander Rick Brough of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department confirmed at least three people were confirmed dead following the accident. “The glider disconnected and landed safely at the airport,” Mygatt said. The person on board the glider was not injured.
It was not immediately clear how many people were on board the two planes. One of the planes, believed to be a small Cirrus 20 aircraft, was equipped with an emergency parachute system. The system allows small planes to descend slowly to the ground in case of an emergency. Video footage from witnesses showed the burning aircraft slowly descending to the ground.
Debris from the collision and body parts are scattered over an area of at least 25 acre, Mygatt said. A search is underway to locate any other bodies, if any.
A spokesman for the Colorado State Patrol said the agency was assisting local emergency services, but referred inquiries to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is on scene and will lead the investigation into the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also on scene to investigate.
KUSA-TV reported that at least five people died in the crash, but officials said only three bodies had been found as of Saturday evening.
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