Colorado, United States: A single-engine Piper PA-28-235 crashed into mountainous terrain near Swampy Pass in Gunnison County, Colorado, on October 24, 2026 killing all three people aboard. The National Transportation Safety Board placed the crash at about 8:11 a.m., while Gunnison Regional 911 received the crash report at around 9:20 a.m.
The victims were identified as 46-year-old Mark Hendrickson and his sons, 15-year-old Alan Hendrickson and 13-year-old Case Hendrickson, all reported to be from New Castle, Colorado. Later reporting identified Mark as the pilot. The aircraft was a Piper PA-28-235, with aircraft-registration data identifying the specific aircraft as N8777W and listing Hendi Aviation LLC in New Castle as its registered owner.
Emergency crews responded to the remote crash site near Swampy Pass in the West Elk Wilderness of the Gunnison National Forest and found all three occupants dead. Initial reports said numerous emergency crews were responding and asked the public not to call 911 or dispatch for updates so dispatchers could remain available for emergency calls and coordinate response resources.
The crash occurred in a remote mountainous area, with early reports locating the incident off Ohio Creek Road before later county updates identified the site near Swampy Pass. The Forest Service identifies the Swampy Pass area as part of the West Elk Wilderness.
Authorities have not released the aircraft’s confirmed departure point or intended destination. Third-party flight-tracking information associates N8777W with Rifle Garfield County Airport, but that information has not been established by the NTSB and is therefore not being treated as a confirmed flight route.
The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office, the NTSB and the US Forest Service. No cause has been established, and authorities have not confirmed whether weather, terrain, mechanical failure or pilot-related factors contributed to the accident.
In a statement shared after the crash, Mark’s wife, Jenni, said: “My loves of my life, Mark and our two beautiful boys, Alan and Case, tragically passed away in a plane crash yesterday.” The family also expressed gratitude for the support it received following the tragedy.
Gunnison County officials said they extend their “deepest condolences to the Hendrickson family” and said additional information would be released by the appropriate investigating agencies as it becomes available.
The investigation is continuing, with no preliminary cause publicly established as of October 26, 2026.
