Locally owned plane crashes, killing one

Click to Enlarge Browse and Buy Post Independent Photos Authorities say this plane departed from Glenwood Springs and was headed to a graduation at the University of Colorado at Boulder when it crashed near Black Hawk Thursday afternoon. Photo Courtesy KMGH-TV, Denver

Staff and Associated Press Reports
May 9, 2008

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BLACK HAWK, Colorado - A plane crash in the rugged mountains near Black Hawk claimed the life of the pilot and severely injured a passenger Thursday afternoon.

Gilpin County Sheriff's office spokeswoman Cherokee Blake says the two men on the plane departed from Glenwood Springs en route to a graduation at the University of Colorado at Boulder when the crash happened around 4:15 p.m.

The victim is reportedly a 55-year-old man and the passenger who survived is 23 years old. As of press time, the identities of the pilot and passenger were not released, nor was information on the relationship of the two men.

The plane is owned by Winkmaggair LLC, and is registered to Carbondale resident Barry Maggert and Carroll Winkler of Glenwood Springs.

Maggert, who is an engineer, made an unsuccessful run for a Carbondale Town Trustee seat in April. His younger brother is Jeff Maggert, a PGA tour golfer.

In late March, as part of its pre-election coverage, the Post Independent reported Maggert's age as 46.

He and wife Renee have three children, twins Lee and Bryant, 23, and Taylor, 21.

The Boulder Daily Camera newspaper reported that according to the University of Colorado, Lee Barry Maggert, of Carbondale, is scheduled to graduate later today.

Blake says a Blackhawk helicopter was used to lower rescuers to the site of the crash because of the rough terrain and that the 23-year-old man was rescued and flown to a Denver hospital.

The Civil Air Patrol says the survivor was brought onto the helicopter around 7:45 p.m.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus in Seattle says one of the people on board called 911 from a cell phone after the crash.

The mission to recover the victim was postponed last night and will resume today.

The NTSB and FAA are investigating the cause of the crash.