Owen Knutson, dead in private plane crash. Knutson had flown out of his family’s private airstrip, south of the crash site
Hunter Gillett is at #7
Hunter Gillett, 18, a senior at Cameron
Victims of plane crash, named
Updated: 3:58 pm, Thu May 25, 2017.
The name has been released of the 17-year-old Chetek-Weyerhaeuser student killed in a plane crash Wednesday evening, May 24.
Owen Knutson, a junior, was killed when the two-seater, Piper single-engine airplane he was piloting crashed into the Red Cedar River.
His passenger, Hunter Gillett, 18, a senior at Cameron, was seriously injured and taken to Eau Claire. He was later airlifted to Rochester, Minn., in serious condition.
Knutson had flown out of his family’s private airstrip, south of the crash site.
Several callers reported the incident around 6:34 p.m., May 24. A caller on the river said they saw the plane fly over them, then heard a crash.
Emergency services converged on the area, including Barron County Sheriff’s Department deputies, Chetek police officers, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wardens, Chetek Ambulance Service, Bloomer Ambulance, Chetek Fire Department, Sand Creek Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and LifeLink Helicopter.
The wreckage was located in the river about three miles south of Chetek, east of CTH I and south of Fifth Avenue, according to Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald, and both Knutson and Gillett were pulled from the water. Knutson was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The BCSD, Barron County Medical Examiner’s Office, National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating. Fitzgerald said those who saw the plane were being interviewed.
“Please keep these families and the students of the Chetek[-Weyerhaeuser] and Cameron school districts in your prayers,” Fitzgerald said.
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser superintendent Mark Johnson said many people were helping students and staff through this difficult time. =======================
CHETEK, Wis. (WEAU) -- One teenager is dead and another is injured after a plane crash near Chetek.
Chetek Fire Chief Ryan Olson tells WEAU 13 News the plane crashed in the Red Cedar River near Chetek Wednesday night.
According to Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald, one of the teens died. The other was taken to an area hospital.
According to the sheriff, the teens are high school students from the Chetek area.
===========
1 dead, 1 serious after plane crash south of Chetek, Wisconsin
Updated: 10:29 am, Thu May 25, 2017.
A plane crashed early evening Wednesday, May 24, southwest of Chetek, killing one teen and seriously injuring another teen, according to the Barron County Sheriff's Department.
The teen killed is a Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School junior, confirmed Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald. The injured teen is a Cameron High School senior. Fitzgerald said that subject was transported to Mayo Hospital in Rochester in "very serious" condition.
Names were not being released that evening at this time out of respect for the victims' families.
Fitzgerald said late May 24, that a single-engine, two-seater plane crashed in the Red Cedar River southwest of Chetek. He said it was between Fourth and Fifth avenues, along 22-1/2 Street. Callers reported seeing a plane go down around 6:30 p.m.
Both victims had been pulled from the wreckage, he said. A boat was securing the plane and the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were coming to the scene and to do a crash investigation.
The Chetek Fire Department, Chetek Ambulance Service, Lifelink Helicopter, Barron County Sheriff's Department, Bloomer Ambulance and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources responded to the crash, Fitzgerald said.
The scene was cleared after 11 p.m., May 24, and roads were open.
Correction: The C-W student was previously reported as a senior. The student is a junior.
=================
Knutson Family Limited Partnership: http://registry.faa.gov/N35132
Aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances. There were two (2) souls on board. One (1) was fatally injured. One (1) sustained serious injuries.
Date: 24-MAY-17
Time: 05:00:00Z
Regis#: N35132
Aircraft Make: PIPER
Aircraft Model: J3C
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
City: CHETEK
State: WISCONSIN
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.
17-Year-old Owen Knutson flying on April 1st
According to the Barron County Sheriff's Office, authorities received calls about the crash starting at about 6:30 p.m. Authorities found wreckage from the crash in the Red Cedar River, about 3 miles south of Chetek.
Two teens were pulled from the water, according to authorities.
Eighteen-year-old Hunter Gillett, of Cameron, was taken to a hospital in Eau Claire and later airlifted to Rochester, where he is listed as being in serious condition.
Seventeen-year-old Owen Knutson, of Chetek, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said Knutson was piloting the two-seater fixed wing single-engine plane. Authorities said the plane took off from a private air strip south of Chetek. A search revealed the plane was registered in the Knutson family name.
The Barron County Sheriff's Office, the Chetek police and fire departments, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Chetek and Bloomer ambulances, the Sand Creek Fire Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol and Life Link Helicopter assisted at the scene.
The Barron County Medical Examiner's Office, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board continue to investigate.
Story, photo gallery and video: http://kstp.com
Owen Knutson
The name has been released of the 17-year-old Chetek-Weyerhaeuser student killed in a plane crash Wednesday evening, May 24.
Owen Knutson, a junior, was killed when the two-seater, Piper single-engine airplane he was piloting crashed into the Red Cedar River.
His passenger, Hunter Gillett, 18, a senior at Cameron, was seriously injured and taken to Eau Claire. He was later airlifted to Rochester, Minn., in serious condition.
Knutson had flown out of his family’s private airstrip, south of the crash site.
Several callers reported the incident around 6:34 p.m., May 24. A caller on the river said they saw the plane fly over them, then heard a crash.
Emergency services converged on the area, including Barron County Sheriff’s Department deputies, Chetek police officers, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wardens, Chetek Ambulance Service, Bloomer Ambulance, Chetek Fire Department, Sand Creek Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and LifeLink Helicopter.
The wreckage was located in the river about three miles south of Chetek, east of CTH I and south of Fifth Avenue, according to Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald, and both Knutson and Gillett were pulled from the water. Knutson was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The BCSD, Barron County Medical Examiner’s Office, National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.
“Please keep these families and the students of the Chetek[-Weyerhaeuser] and Cameron school districts in your prayers,” Fitzgerald said.
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser superintendent Mark Johnson said many people were helping students and staff through this difficult time.
Original article can be found here: http://www.chetekalert.com
===============
Date: 24-MAY-2017
Time: 18:30
Type:
Piper J3C-65 Cub
Owner/operator: Private
Registration: N35132
C/n / msn: 6144
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Unknown
Location: Red Cedar River, Barron County south of Chetek, WI -
United States of America Phase: En route
Nature: Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Narrative:
The plane crashed under unknown circumstances south of Chetek, Wisconsin. One occupant died, another was seriously injured.
Sources:
http://www.weau.com/content/news/one-teen-killed-another-injured-in-plane-crash-near-Chetek-424210414.html
http://www.apg-wi.com/rice_lake_chronotype/paywall/small-plane-crashes-south-of-chetek-one-teen-dead-another/article_58c7b6ba-414e-11e7-957b-13edc4775fea.html
http://www.chetekalert.com/news/article_c2fc9f18-40ff-11e7-878c-bbefcc9cf009.html
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chetek,+WI+54728/@45.2689637,-91.707647,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x52ace9ad85e81ecd:0xe269cac48d37c785?hl=en-us
http://www.asias.faa.gov/pls/apex/f?p=100:95:6253958390889::NO::P95_EVENT_LCL_DATE,P95_LOC_CITY_NAME,P95_REGIST_NBR:24-MAY-17,CHETEK,N35132
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N35132
==================
Hunter Gillett ‘17 Recruiting Profile
- Cameron High School
- Cameron, WI
- Football
- Height:
- 5'11"
- Weight:
- 175
- Age:
- 18
- Prim. Position:
- CB
- Sec. Position:
- WR
- 40 Yard Dash
- 4.7
- Bench Press
- 195
Senior Year as QB
Personal Statement
I was a leader on my football team my Junior and Senior Year. For team awards I won "Comet Pride" player of the year which means I demonstrated the most leadership on my team. I was voted by my team as the most valuable player to the team. I am willing to work hard in the classroom and on the field. Look forward to hearing from you.-Hunter Gillett
=====================
Teen pilot killed, passenger hurt in Wisconsin plane crash
Milwaukee Published 1:12 p.m. CT May 25, 2017 | Updated 1:29 p.m. CT May 25, 2017
(Photo: Pam Powers, Associated Press)
A teenage pilot was killed and his passenger was seriously injured when a single-engine plane crashed into a river near a small northwestern Wisconsin community still recovering from last week’s deadly and destructive tornado.
Owen Knutson, 17, died at the scene of the crash Wednesday evening, according to Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald.
Passenger Hunter Gillett, 18, just days away from graduating from high school, was injured when the Piper aircraft crashed into the Red Cedar River about 3 miles south of Chetek, sheriff’s officials said.
Fitzgerald said it was difficult for first responders to locate and reach the crash site.
“It’s a rural setting. There’s no easy access to get to it. We walked a long way to get to the scene,” he said. The boys were found in the river, in waist-deep water, according to the sheriff.
Divers with a towing service pull a plane that crashed into the Red Cedar River in Barron County Sheriff's officials say one teenager died and another was critically injured in the crash. (Photo: Pam Powers, Associated Press)
Knutson had taken off from a private airstrip on his family’s property near Chetek when several people called the sheriff’s department after seeing the plane go down. The teen, a junior at Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gillett was taken to a hospital in Eau Claire then airlifted to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he was in serious condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Gillett is a standout student-athlete at nearby Cameron High School where he was to graduate on Friday, school district administrator Joe Leschisin said.
“He’s a hard-working, respectful young man,” Leschisin said of Gillett, who plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
The plane crash happened about 7 miles from the site of a tornado touchdown May 16 that killed one man, injured about two dozen others and caused about $10 million in damage.
“It’s an extremely tough time for everyone,” Fitzgerald said. “We need your thoughts and prayers.”
====================
UPDATE: Survivor of deadly Barron Co. plane crash listed in serious condition
Teens in Plane Crash Identified (5/25/17)
Teens Identified in Plane Crash (5/25/17)
By Noelle Anderson, Andrew Fefer |
Posted: Thu 9:50 AM, May 25, 2017 |
Updated: Thu 7:31 PM, May 25, 2017
ROCHESTER, Minn. (WEAU) -- A spokesperson from Mayo Clinic Hospital - St. Mary's Campus in Rochester, Minnesota said late Thursday that Gillett is now listed in serious condition, which is an upgrade.
BARRON, Wis. (WEAU) -- The condition of the survivor in a deadly plane crash is reportedly improving.
Thursday afternoon, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said that Hunter Gillett, 18, of Cameron was in critical condition. In a Thursday morning statement, the Barron County Sheriff's Office had listed Gillett in serious condition. Gillett was injured in the Wednesday evening plane crash near Chetek that killed Owen Knutson, 17, of Chetek. Gillett is expected to graduate from Cameron High School on Saturday. He was taken to a hospital in Rochester, MN, where he was receiving treatment at last report.
"A lot of our first responders knew the family," Fitzgerald said. "That's what makes this one...again, the tornado, we knew them, they were our friends...but there's something with kids."
"Usually, I'm not at a loss for words," he said.
Knutson was the pilot of the plane that went into the Red Cedar River, south of Chetek, on Wednesday. Crews pulled the two victims from the river Wednesday evening. They recovered the wreckage Thursday morning, and are keeping it in an airport hangar in Rice Lake.
The National Transportation Safety Board is one of many agencies investigating the cause of the crash.
"We look at two areas, man machine, and environment and this is the machine aspect of it, we'll be looking at the airframe to see if there are any anomalies that could have caused or contributed to this particular accident. We'll look into the pilots background, to see how long he had been flying, what his level of experience was," says Jennifer, Rodi, Senior Air Safety Investigator with NTSB.
"All four corners of the aircraft arrived on scene so it does not look like we have an in flight structural failure of the aircraft," says Rodi.
The sheriff says no Memorial Day or graduation plans are expected to change pending the investigation.
The NTSB should have their full preliminary report filed after the holiday.
BARRON, Wis. (WEAU) -- Investigators have identified the teenagers involved in a deadly plane crash Wednesday evening.
In a statement released Thursday morning, the Barron County Sheriff's Department said Owen Knutson, 17, of Chetek was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The statement said that Hunter Gillett, 18, of Cameron is in serious condition in a Rochester, MN hospital. Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said that Knutson was a student at Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School and Gillett is a student at Cameron High School.
Crews responded to the Red Cedar River south of Chetek on several reports of a plane crash around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. They found the wreckage in the river three miles south of Chetek. Knutson and Gillett were pulled from the water. The sheriff's department said Knutson was the pilot of the two-seater Piper Fixed Wing single engine plane. They had taken off from a private air strip on a property Knutson's family owns south of Chetek. Fitzgerald did not know where the teenagers were headed.
The statement did not elaborate on what else may have led up to the crash or what caused it, and Fitzgerald told WEAU 13 News that he did not know those details. The statement said the sheriff's department along with the Barron County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating at the scene. It also asked the community to "keep these families and the students of the Chetek and Cameron School districts in your prayers."
BARRON, Wis. (BARRON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE) -- On Wednesday May 24, 2017 at 6:34pm the Barron County Sheriff’s Department received several calls of a plane crash south of Chetek.
Deputies from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department along with the Chetek Police Department, WI DNR, Chetek Ambulance, Bloomer Ambulance, Chetek Fire Department, Sand Creek Fire Department, WI State Patrol and Life Link Helicopter responded to the scene.
The plane wreckage was located in the Red Cedar River south of Chetek about 3 miles. Two subjects were pulled from the water. Hunter Gillett, 18 of Cameron was taken by Bloomer Ambulance to an Eau Claire Hospital and later flown to Rochester where he is in serious condition. Owen Knutson, 17 of Chetek was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Knutson was the pilot of the 2 seater Piper Fixed Wing single engine plane and took off from a private air strip on the Knutson Property south of Chetek.
The Barron County Sheriff’s Department along with the Barron County Medical Examiner’s Office, the FAA and the NTSB are all on scene handling the investigation.
Please keep these families and the students of the Chetek and Cameron School districts in your prayers.
No media will be allowed on any school district property.