Glenwood Springs man ID’d as pilot who died in airplane glider crash at Garfield County Airport Thursday
Cause of crash under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board
The identity of the pilot who died following Thursday’s airplane glider crash at the Rifle Garfield County Airport was released Saturday by the Garfield County Coroner’s Office.
Glenwood Springs resident Shmuel Dimentstein, 73, died of blunt forces following the crash, a news release states.
The Garfield County Coroner’s Office was dispatched to the crash around 5:51 p.m. Thursday.
“A coroner’s office investigator responded and pronounced the decedent dead at 6:35 p.m.,” the release states.
Coroner’s office investigators learned the decedent was the sole occupant of the glider aircraft and that the crash was witnessed by another pilot in the area, the release states.
“On (Friday), Garfield County Coroner’s Office contract forensic pathologist performed an autopsy on Mr. Dimentstein,” the release states. “The autopsy revealed blunt force injuries. The manner of death is being investigated as an accident.”
The cause of the crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Responding agencies included the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado River Fire Rescue and Rifle Garfield County Airport administrative personnel.
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