Two NPS rangers die in plane crash in Utah

Two National Park Service law enforcement rangers from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah died on Friday when a small private plane, a Cessna 172, crashed in the Dixie National Forest in southern Utah. The aircraft was owned and piloted by Dangling Rope Subdistrict Ranger Laurie Axelson. Her passenger was Chief Ranger Brent McGinn.

They had taken off from the Bryce Canyon airport and were bound for the airport in Page, Arizona, near the headquarters for Glen Canyon NRA, but failed to arrive as expected Friday night. A search began for the missing aircraft early Saturday morning and two to three hours later the plane was found in a rugged area of Mount Dutton near Deep Creek.

Here are more details from the Deseret News:

plane crash, nps employees
Photo: Garfield County Sheriff's Office

…They set out on Friday to scout the area for an upcoming elk hunt when they crashed in a fairly remote part of Dixie National Forest.

[National Park Service spokesman Shannan] Marcak said it is believed they left Friday night. Sometime Saturday morning, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area dispatchers were notified that the private plane was missing, prompting a search of the area. Three hours later, the wreckage of the Cessna was found and McGinn and Axelson were confirmed dead.

Searchers are still working to recover the bodies. Macark said the cause of the crash is under investigation.

She said the investigation into the crash is in its “fledgling” stages, but officials from the National Transportation Safety Board and Garfield County and National Park Service staff from Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon National Park are all expected to participate.

Marcak said she did not have any information on Axelson’s background or experience as a pilot.

Dixie National Forest covers about two million acres of southern Utah near Cedar City.

The official NPS press release.

Our sincere condolences to the families and co-workers.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

One thought on “Two NPS rangers die in plane crash in Utah”

  1. Both good people. I supervised Brent when he was a seasonal and kept in occasional contact.

    There is allways a greater danger in small planes in the mountains if one gets low and slow. No dis-respect to the pilot, for I am one also and have been there.

    My condolences to the families also.

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