News Release from Kiowa County Sheriff: Update on May 18 Plane Crash

This news release shared on behalf of the Kiowa County Sheriff's Office.


Public Information Officer Contact:
Sheriff Casey Sheridan
Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office
(719) 438-5411 | (719) 438-2205
www.kiowasheriff.co  

Media Release

Update on Fatal Airplane Crash in Kiowa County on May 18

Eads, Colo. –May 20, 2016 – On Wednesday, May 18, 2016 a fatal airplane crash occurred in Kiowa County.  The Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office has been informed it could take up to a year to complete the full investigation.  All media requests for further information will be handled by the NTSB Public Affairs Office at 202-314-6100.

On May 18 the Bent/Kiowa County Dispatch received a call just after 9:30 a.m. reporting that an aircraft had disappeared from radar in the vicinity of the Kansas/Colorado state line.  Multiple agencies responded to search for a downed aircraft including the Kiowa County Fire Department, ambulance crews, the Colorado State Patrol, and Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).  Two F16 aircraft and a B1 Bomber were training in the area and also assisted in the search. The F16 and B1 Bomber pilots quickly located the crash site and lead rescue personal to the scene. 

A Cessna P210 was found west of County Road 71 approximately three miles north of Highway 96, in a field northeast of Sheridan Lake.  The pilot has been identified as John Lee Stubblefield, age 64, of Meridian, Idaho.  Stubblefield died in the crash.  

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived on Thursday, May 19 to investigate the crash scene.  They recovered the aircraft for their investigation later that evening. 

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News Release: Ouray County Releases Identities of Plane Crash Victims

News release posted on behalf of Ouray County. 

Contact:​Marti Whitmore – Ouray County Attorney and Public Information Officer

Phone:​​970-626-5484

Email:​​mwhitmore@ouraycountyco.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Ridgway, Colorado – Ouray County, Colorado- March 27, 2014 -  Recovery efforts today were focused on ensuring the recovery of the victims, as well as the fuselage of the plane, and any other remaining debris.  Recovery crews have been successful in locating and retrieving the bodies of five (5) victims.   

The Ouray County Coroner, Colleen Hollenbeck, has positively confirmed identification of the victims. They have been identified as Jimmy Hill, 48; Katrina Barksdale, 40; Xander Barksdale, 8; Kobe Barksdale, 11; and Seth McDuffie, 14, all of Gadsden, Alabama.   

Next of kin of the victims have been contacted, and they are aware that the recovery efforts have been successful.  The Coroner has maintained close communications with the victims’ family members throughout this tragic situation.  

From this point forward, the NTSB and FAA will take charge of the investigation of the crash.  The plane has been secured for the investigation.  

This recovery effort has required the expertise and assistance of several local, state and federal agencies, as well as the efforts of plane manufacturer Daher-Socata; and commercial dive and salvage contractors Inland Marine of Denver, Colorado, and Beegle Aviation of Greeley.  Ouray County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Emergency Management, the National Park Service, Ouray County EMS, Ridgway Volunteer Fire Department, Ouray Volunteer Fire Department, Town of Ridgway Marshall’s office, City of Ouray Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, as well as representatives from FAA and NTSB have all worked closely on this difficult operation.  OurayCounty especially thanks the restaurants, lodges, and other businesses in Ouray County for their assistance, and San Miguel, Gunnison and Montrose counties for their assistance in providing additional emergency support personnel.

Photos and news release provided by Ouray County Office of Emergency Management.

News Release #3: Ouray County Plane Crash Update at 8 PM

Contact: Marti Whitmore – Ouray County Attorney and Public Information Officer

Phone: 970-626-5484

Email: mwhitmore@ouraycountyco.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 22, 2014, 8 p.m. - Ridgway, Colorado – Ouray County, Colorado -  Search and rescue operations in Ridgway Reservoir have ceased for the night at approximately 7 p.m. Recovery operations will resume in the morning. The plane crashed about 90 feet from shore in 60-90 feet of water.

There are believed to be no survivors, but no victims have been recovered as of this evening. It is believed that five (5) people were on board, and the plane was enroute from Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Montrose, Colorado, about 25 miles north of Ridgway Reservoir. No identities of those on board have been released at this time, pending notification of next of kin.

The plane was registered to a corporation in Alabama. The Ouray County sheriff expects to have a dive team and additional resources on Sunday to finish recovery operations and any necessary clean-up of spilled fuel or debris. Colorado State Parks has closed the campground and day facilities temporarily, pending completion of the recovery efforts.


The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is supporting Ouray County with information distribution, however, all media calls should be directed to Ouray Couty PIO Marti Whitmore.   

News Release #2: Ouray County Plane Crash - 5 PM Update

March 22, 2014 - 5:00 p.m.

Contact: Marti Whitmore: Ouray County Attorney & Public Information Officer

Phone: 970-626-5484

Email: mwhitmore@ouraycountyco.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ridgway, Colorado – Ouray County, Colorado - At approximately 2 p.m. this afternoon a small plane crashed in the vicinity of Ridgway Reservoir, just north of Ridgway, Colorado in southwest Colorado. The plane is believed to be a single-engine Socata TBM700. At this time there is no confirmation of how many people were on board, or whether there are any survivors.

Search and rescue is on site searching for survivors. A rescue dive team is also on site.

The plane is believed to be registered to a corporation in Alabama, and had departed from Bartlesville, OK and was headed to Montrose, Colorado.


The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is supporting Ouray County with information distribution, however, all media calls should be directed to Ouray Couty PIO Marti Whitmore.

News Release: Ouray County Plane Crash Update

Ridgway, Colorado – Ouray County, Colorado

Contact:​Marti Whitmore – Ouray County Attorney and Public Information Officer

Phone:   ​970-626-5484

Email:   ​mwhitmore@ouraycountyco.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This afternoon a small plane crashed in the vicinity of Ridgway Reservoir, just north of Ridgway, Colorado in southwest Colorado.    It is unknown at this time whether there are any survivors.    Search and rescue is on site searching for survivors.  Rescue dive teams are in route to the scene.   Further details will be released as they become known.