SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, July 14, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Two men who died after a small plane crashed and burned Thursday morning in Butterfield Canyon have been identified.
The deceased are Nicholas Thomas, 34, and Jacob McGoldrick, 37, officials confirmed Friday morning. Thomas was a captain with the Utah Army National Guard.
“His tragic death weighs heavy on our organization, and our hearts go out to the Thomas family in their time of loss,” the Utah Army National Guard said in a news release.
Unified Police Department Lt. Brian Lohrke said officials got word from the Utah Highway Patrol about a small aircraft going down in the area at approximately 10 a.m.
“We were able to get patrol officers up there immediately and also do a search and rescue call out and got search and rescue personnel up there,” Lohrke said. “We were able to locate the crash site which is at the top of Butterfield Canyon right near the border of Salt Lake County and Tooele County. There’s also a Girl Scout Camp up there that has an enclosed fence area and I believe the crash site was pretty close to that camp. The terrain and the fencing around the area there slowed down our progress of getting to the crash site but we were able to get there and we have everything we need up there right now.”
The crash also caused a small brush fire in the area.
“Our first initial rescuers gave us that information that there was a fire and the plane was on fire, and because of the brush around the area they were very concerned about that,” Lohrke added.
Unified Fire Authority responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
Butterfield Canyon is just west of the city of Herriman.
Local press wait for any information about this morning’s light plane crash at the bottom of Butterfield Canyon, located near Herriman, Utah. Photo: Steve Milner/Gephardt Daily
Unified Police received a call reporting that a light aircraft had crashed in the upper elevation of Butterfield Canyon, located in south western Salt Lake County, Utah. Photo: Steve Milner/Gephardt Daily
Unified Fire Authority along with medical ambulances, responded to a report of aircraft down near a Girl Scout Camp. Photo: Steve Milner/Gephardt Daily
Unified Police were the first responders to the report of a plane crash, early this morning in Butterfield Canyon, located in south western Salt Lake County. Photo Courtesy: Steve Milner/Gephardt Daily
Near the top of Butterfield Canyon, a small plane crashed, both adults are dead. Federal Aviation Authority and Unified Police are conducting investigations into the cause and names of victims of the crash. Photo: Steve Milner/Gephardt Daily
Unified Police coordinate with Unified Fire Authority on the best approach to making their way to the plane crash that has taken the life of two adults. Photo: Steve Milner/Gephardt Daily
Two people are confirmed dead after a small plane crashed and burned Thursday morning in Butterfield Canyon. Photo Courtesy: UPD
Two people are confirmed dead after a small plane crashed and burned Thursday morning in Butterfield Canyon. Photo Courtesy: UPD
Two people are confirmed dead after a small plane crashed and burned Thursday morning in Butterfield Canyon. Photo Courtesy: UPD
Two people are confirmed dead after a small plane crashed and burned Thursday morning in Butterfield Canyon. Photo Courtesy: UPD
The small plane that crashed was an Aviat A-1B Husky, the same model shown in this file photo. Photo: Wikipedia
Hi guys. Jacob ( Jake ) was a friend of mine, and I’m trying to get more info. Has anyone determined what happened yet? Any news or feedback appreciated. Thanks. Liz
Hi guys. Jacob ( Jake ) was a friend of mine, and I’m trying to get more info. Has anyone determined what happened yet? Any news or feedback appreciated. Thanks. Liz
Jake was from Australia and worked in Sudan in 2012 as a Helicopter Pilot with a food relief programme
I saw him there as I was flying a Shorts 330