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Two walk away from Granby Airport plane crash

Lance Maggart
lmaggart@skyhidailynews.com
Granby firefighters examine the wreckage a single-engine airplane that crashed while attempting to land at the Granby Airport on Friday, Aug. 29. The two passengers were able to walk away with only minor injuries.
Byron Hetzler/bhetzler@skyhidailynews.com | Sky-Hi News

Twisted wreckage and shaken nerves marked the aftermath of a single-engine prop plane crash at the Granby Airport on Friday, Aug. 29, between 12:30 and 12:45 p.m.

The crash resulted in minor injuries for the two people onboard: Robert Weaver and his wife Ruth Weaver, both of Las Vegas, Nev.

Both individuals extricated themselves from the crash and were able to walk into the Middle Park Medical Center-Granby under their own power after an ambulance ride.



The crash occurred as pilot Robert Weaver was coming into the Granby Airport for a landing. Weaver approached from the west and was attempting to land on Runway No. 9.

As he made his final approach, Weaver explained, he decided to “Go-around,” aborting his initial landing attempt and circling the airfield for another approach on the runway.



In interviews with local law-enforcement investigators Weaver explained he was not able to “Go-around” because as he throttled forward the plane stalled and pulled to the left.

The 2006 Cirrus aircraft then struck the airport fence, bounced off County Road 608, just north of the airport runway, before rolling an unknown number of times and coming to rest in an empty field north of County Road 608.

Bits of the planes wreckage were strewn about the field.

Bill Hanson had recently left work at the Grand Lake Log Homes shop in the area and was traveling with his brother Brian Hanson down County Road 608 moments after the crash occurred.

The two brothers watched as Robert and Ruth climbed out of the wreckage and then helped the dazed couple up onto the County Road.

“Fuel was pouring out of the plane,” Brian Hanson said.

A press release from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office later in the day said “some leakage occurred, and the plane did sustain heavy damage.”

Robert Weaver told investigators he has 10 years of flying experience and estimated a total of about 1,000 flying hours. He has not previously landed at the Granby Airport but has experience landing at other high elevation airports.

Both Robert and Ruth were wearing full harnesses at the time of the crash.

Granby Fire Department, Grand County EMS, Granby Police, and the Grand County Sheriff Office responded.


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