One dead after fiery Friday plane crash in Arvada
One of the four victims of a small airplane crash Friday in Arvada has died, the Jefferson County Coroner’s office confirmed Monday.
Arvada Police initially responded to the crash at 9:30 a.m. and by the time the Arvada Fire Department arrived, the four passengers — two adults and two juveniles — had been transported to the hospital, according to officials.
The small plane, a 1969 Beechcraft V35A Bonanza, crashed after experiencing engine troubles, per previous reports. Before the crash, the pilot of the aircraft called their troubles into air traffic control at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), which was obtained by 9News:
“B-J-C tower, good morning. Bonanza 150 Whiskey Romeo, I am 7 miles to the southeast. I have an oil light on, and losing pressure. Can I get on the ground please, sir?” the pilot said to air traffic control.
“Zero Whiskey Romeo, do you see anywhere that’s safe for you to land?” said air traffic control.
“I’m trying to find a field or a park. I’ve got something in sight, I don’t know where I am,” said the pilot.
The pilot attempted to land in a roadway.
The plane’s left wing hit a tree on its way down before the plane crashed on the roadway and skidded to a stop in a front yard according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Four passengers were critically injured and rushed to an area hospital.
This was corroborated by neighbors who told The Denver Gazette they saw a wing strike a tree before the plane crashed.
A fire started after the crash, Alex Lemishko, an NTSB inspector said.
The airplane caught fire again at approximately 4 p.m., which, according to photos of the incident, left little in the way of wreckage. Arvada Fire crews worked to extinguish the crashed plane and clear any hazardous material, like fuel, that remained.
The Denver Gazette contacted the NTSB, Jefferson County Coroners Office and the Arvada Fire Department for further updates, but as of late Monday afternoon, had not received a response.
Denver Gazette Breaking News Reporter Sage Kelly and The Denver Gazette’s media partner 9News contributed to this report.






