Two Aerial Survey Crew Members Fatally Injured in Mountainous Plane Crash Near Telluride

TELLURIDE, Colorado — Federal aviation authorities and local law enforcement officers are investigating a fatal aircraft accident in San Miguel County that claimed the lives of aerial survey crew members Randy Ramirez and Blake Klobuchar. As reported by regional aviation safety coverage on Aviation Safety Network, the twin-engine flight went down in rugged terrain near Telluride while returning from an aerial mapping mission.

Survey Flight Departure and Mountainous Impact According to preliminary flight tracking data and investigation bulletins released by the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office, the aircraft was completing a scheduled aerial survey route over southwestern Colorado before radar contact was lost. Search and rescue teams, including local mountain rescue personnel and sheriff's deputies, deployed to the last known GPS coordinates in the high-altitude terrain surrounding Telluride. First responders located the wreckage in a remote mountain area, confirming that both crew members sustained fatal injuries in the crash.

Federal Investigation and Tributes The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have dispatched field investigators to determine the probable cause of the crash, focusing on weather conditions, flight path telemetry, engine performance, and terrain factors. Colleagues and aviation peers remembered Mr. Ramirez for his warm friendship and camaraderie both on the ground and in the cockpit, while Mr. Klobuchar was recognized as a highly skilled flight operator known for his composure and precision during complex air operations. Search teams remain on site assisting federal investigators with wreckage recovery operations.