A Colorado mother is mourning the unimaginable loss of her husband and two teenage sons after the small airplane they were traveling in crashed in a remote mountain wilderness, killing all three members of the family.
Mark Hendrickson, 46, was piloting the aircraft Saturday morning, October 24, with his sons Alan, 15, and Case, 13, when the plane went down near Swampy Pass in Gunnison National Forest.
The family, from New Castle in western Colorado, was devastated by the tragedy, which has left Mark’s wife, Jenni, and their surviving son, Coen, grieving the sudden loss of three loved ones.
In an emotional statement shared by relatives, Jenni struggled to put her heartbreak into words.
“I never thought I would have to write these words,” she said. “My loves of my life, Mark and our two beautiful boys Alan and Case tragically passed away in a plane crash yesterday.”
She added that her family’s world was broken and thanked everyone who had reached out with prayers, love and support.
The accident occurred shortly after 8:10 a.m. Saturday in the rugged West Elk Mountains, a remote region of Colorado known for its steep terrain, thick forests and high elevations.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft was a single-engine Piper PA-28-235, a small private airplane.
The Gunnison Regional 911 Center received a report of the crash around 9:20 a.m., prompting an emergency response involving local authorities and rescue personnel.
Reaching the wreckage proved challenging because of the isolated location near Swampy Pass, within the West Elk Wilderness.
Emergency crews eventually located the downed aircraft, but there was nothing they could do to save those aboard.
All three occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Gunnison County Coroner’s Office subsequently identified the victims as Mark and his two sons, confirming the devastating news that had already begun spreading among relatives and friends.
For the Hendrickson family, the loss has been almost impossible to comprehend.
Mark’s sister-in-law, Niccole Ruby Hendrickson, shared a public message asking friends and neighbors to surround the family with support as they faced what she described as an unthinkable tragedy.
She expressed particular concern for Jenni, her surviving son and the relatives now struggling with the sudden loss.
Mark was an experienced construction professional who had spent nearly a decade working for Denver-based Shaw Construction.
According to his professional background, he earned a degree in construction management from Pittsburg State University in Kansas in 2003 and had built a successful career in the industry.
He was also a licensed private pilot, with Federal Aviation Administration records indicating that he had held certification to operate single-engine aircraft since at least 2023.
His love of flying had become another part of his life, although authorities have not disclosed where the family was traveling Saturday morning or why they were flying over the mountains.
His sons were both still in school, with years of opportunities and experiences ahead of them.
Alan, 15, was involved in high school athletics, participating in football and baseball.
Case, 13, was the younger of the two boys aboard the aircraft. His family has not publicly shared many details about his school activities or interests.
Family photographs shared following the accident showed Mark enjoying time with his three sons, offering a heartbreaking glimpse into the lives that have been forever changed.
The tragedy has also deeply affected friends and neighbors in New Castle, a small community along the Colorado River approximately 175 miles west of Denver.
The family was known in the area, and news of the crash quickly prompted messages of sympathy and support.
Meanwhile, federal investigators are working to determine what caused the airplane to go down.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the aviation investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities.
Investigators will examine the wreckage, the aircraft’s maintenance history, available flight information and weather conditions to reconstruct the moments before the crash.
The mountainous location could make the process more difficult, particularly because the wreckage is in remote terrain with limited access.
However, officials have not established whether weather, mechanical failure, pilot-related factors or another issue contributed to the accident.
Authorities have also not confirmed the airplane’s departure airport or intended destination.
Gunnison County officials released a statement offering condolences to the Hendrickson family and acknowledging the enormous loss.
The family also expressed appreciation for the respect, compassion and support shown by emergency responders and members of the community.
Additional details about the investigation will be released as they become available.
For Jenni and Coen, however, the questions surrounding the crash are only one part of an overwhelming tragedy.
What began as a Saturday morning flight ended with the loss of a husband, father and two young boys, leaving an entire family struggling to imagine life without them.
As investigators search for answers, loved ones are remembering Mark, Alan and Case for the lives they shared and the family bonds that meant so much to them.
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