Well Known Provo Couple, Two Children Die in Missouri Plane Crash
HUGGINS, Mo.- June 12, 2015 (Herald Extra and Gephardt Daily) — Authorities say a well-known Provo couple and two of their children died and another child was hurt when their small plane crashed while taking off from a relative’s grass airstrip in southwest Missouri, according to the Herald Extra.
Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Jeff Kinder said witnesses saw the Beechcraft A-36 single-engine airplane get about 100 feet off the ground Friday morning before stalling in a rural area near the town of Huggins. He said the Provo family was on their way home after seeing relatives.
Kinder identified the victims as 43-year-old Charles Mark Openshaw; his 43-year-old wife, Amy; their 15-year-old son, Tanner; and 12-year-old daughter, Ellie. The couple’s 5-year-old son was taken to a Springfield-area hospital in serious condition.
Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board officials say the agencies are investigating.
Gov. Gary R. Herbert issued the following statement on the passing of Utah State Board of Education member, Openshaw: “I am shocked and saddened to learn today of the tragic passing of Mark Openshaw and his family. He was a strong advocate for Utah students and exemplary in his service on the State Board of Education. His service also extended to his community and church. He will be greatly missed. The First Lady and I wish to express our condolences to the Openshaw family at this difficult time.”
Utah State Board of Education Chairman David L. Crandall expressed sympathy today at the news.
“On behalf of the Members of the Utah State Board of Education, I express our deepest sympathy at the passing of our friend and colleague Mark Openshaw, and his wife and two of his children. Our hearts go out to his family. I have known him to be deeply passionate about Utah’s public schools and his death is a significant loss to our community. Mark had a way of brightening every room that he entered, and I will personally miss that,” Crandall said.
Openshaw was first elected to the Utah State Board of Education as representative from District 13 in 2008 and won re-election in 2012. He was chair of the Board’s Law and Licensing Committee at the time of his death.
