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Private Plane Crashes Near Glenwood Springs

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4)- A private plane carrying a family crashed near Glenwood Springs, killed everyone on board.

"All four who died – a 47-year-old man, a 45-year-old woman, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy – were longtime residents of Fort Collins, Colorado," according to a family statement.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane that crashed is a Cirrus SR22, similar to the one pictured above.

The family of four, two adults and two children, were on the plane that was flying from Fort Collins to Utah.

Early Saturday morning, the Garfield County Sheriff's Office was notified of the plane and its route.

The Civil Air Patrol and Classic Air were asked to assist in the search but due to low-hanging clouds the search was delayed.

The last report of the plane was approximately nine miles north of Glenwood Springs near Baxter Peak, about 170 miles west of Denver.

The FAA says the plane disappeared from radar on Friday evening.

The wreckage of the small plane was located just before noon in that area. There were no survivors.

Ground crews worked to get to the wreckage. Those aboard the plane have not been identified.

What caused the crash will be investigated once crews reach the wreckage.

FULL FAMILY STATEMENT: 

It is with broken hearts that we announce the deaths of four of our cherished and beloved family members who perished in a plane crash in Garfield County about 10 miles north of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017.

All four who died – a 47-year-old man, a 45-year-old woman, a 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy – were longtime residents of Fort Collins, Colorado.

As previously released by the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, the four were flying from Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport to Moab, Utah, when the plane went down.

Jeff Makepeace, 47, was born and raised in Naples, New York. He was the owner of Lind's Plumbing and Heating in Fort Collins. He is survived by his father, mother , two stepmothers, one sister, one brother, and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.

Jennifer Makepeace (nee: Hickey), 45, was born and raised in Fontana, California. She was a stay-at-home mother. She is survived by her parents, three brothers, one sister, and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.

Addison and Benjamin Makepeace, both 10, were born and being raised in Fort Collins. They were fourth-graders at Bauder Elementary School in Fort Collins. They are survived by their grandparents, and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.

The family's dog has also been confirmed to have been onboard the plane.

Our family's hearts have been broken by this tragic accident. Our grief cannot be defined and will be prolonged. But our memories of this amazing family will last forever.

The family would like to thank all of the first responders from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office and search-and-rescue crews who braved trying and difficult conditions to reach the crash scene. We are eternally grateful for their efforts.

We would also like to thank the Garfield County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Lou Vallario personally visited the family to offer his complete support. His entire staff has been diligent, respectful and extremely compassionate. Their support has been invaluable during this difficult time.

Finally, the Garfield County Coroner's Office, headed by Robert Glassmire, has been instrumental for us. Mr. Glassmire was at the scene and he provided the family with as much information that he could. We thank him for everything he and his office have done.

Services are pending. At this time, the family is not doing interviews, and we respectfully ask the media to honor the wishes of the families during this trying and difficult time.

Makepeace and Hickey families

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