N8553S Crash

Aviation Notable Activity
1

flightaware.com/live/flight/N8553S

thedenverchannel.com/slidesh … etail.html

cbs4denver.com/video/?id=41523@k … om&cid=107

The Pilot did not make it :cry:

For Immediate Release

May 8th, 2007

At about 5:00 p.m. Colorado Wing Civil Air Patrol received a request
from Gilpin County to assist in the location of a down aircraft. The
passenger had called 911 with an approximate location. The plane is
believed to have gone down near Blackhawk.

CAP had an airplane launched within 45 minutes. In coordination with
the Gilpin County Sheriff, CAP requested assistance from the National
Guard with a high altitude helicopter with winch capabilities. The
National Guard sent a Blackhawk helicopter from Buckley AFB at 6:37
p.m. The Blackhawk was directed to the scene of the crash. The CAP
aircraft assisted with communications between the ground teams and
the Blackhawk helicopter. At 7:42 the crew of the helicopter reported
that they had one survivor on board and the pilot was deceased.

Both the CAP plane and the Blackhawk helicopter are still onscene at
this time. An update will be provided after the crews return safely.

2

The pilot was golfer Jeff Maggert’s brother here is the story

Jeff Maggert withdrew from The Players Championship, telling tournament officials that his brother died in a small plane crash in Colorado en route to his son’s college graduation.

The Gilpin County (Colo.) Sheriff’s office said one man died and a 23-year-old passenger was injured Thursday afternoon when the single-engine plane crashed into a snowy mountain in Black Hawk, about 40 miles west of Denver.

The Aspen Daily News reported the 1965 Cessna 1982 was co-owned by Barry Maggert and Carroll Winkler, who said that Maggert was flying the plane to Boulder for his son’s graduation from the University of Colorado.

Maggert, the golfer’s older brother, has 23-year-old twin sons, Lee and Bryant. Lee Maggert was to graduate Friday.

Jeff Maggert played Thursday afternoon and opened with an even-par 72. He learned of the plane crash when he finished his round and was scrambling for information before withdrawing late Thursday and flying to Colorado.

He confirmed to tournament officials that his brother had died. The Gilpin County Sheriff’s office said Friday morning it was waiting for family to arrive before releasing the names.

Maggert is a three-time winner on the PGA Tour who has played on three Ryder Cup teams. He lives in Houston and has five children, including 3-year-old twin girls.

Barry Maggert, an engineer from Carbondale, Colo., made an unsuccessful candidacy last month as a town trustee.

Alpine Rescue Team spokesman Bill Barwick said about 50 people, some on snowmobiles, helped the rescue effort in mountainous terrain at 10,400 feet. He said the sheriff’s office was waiting for daylight and better weather Friday to bring down the body.

The 23-year-old passenger was taken to a Denver’s hospital. His condition was unknown. FAA spokesman Mike Fergus in Seattle said one of the people on board called 911 from a cell phone after the crash.

3

The flight originated in Glenwood Springs, CO (KGWS), just north of Maggert’s hometown of Carbondale. The wife and I were looking at possibly moving there till recently. Sad story.

Should we presume that the 23-year-old survivor is the “other” twin, Bryant?

4

I noticed in the flight tracker that the flight originally was going to KBJC, then was diverted to KBDU. Wonder if a wrong turn was made in that diversion? Crash site was 10,400’…last radar return was 10,600’.
I’d like to hear the ATC tape on this one.

5

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20080524/NEWS/638732143

Survivor’s story.