LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. — Susan Wolber, a well-known and beloved pilot, was one of two people killed in a Civil Air Patrol plane crash Saturday morning.
Jay Rhoten, an aerial photographer, was also killed in the crash in the Storm Mountain area of Larimer County. Copilot Randall Settergren is the sole survivor.
"It’s just heartbreaking," said Bill Snodgrass, a pilot and the president of the Fort Collins-Loveland Pilots Association.
Snodgrass knew Wolber personally, having shared the skies with her on many trips.
"Her and I went into the mountains many times and flew around," Snodgrass said. "She loved being able to show people this thing about flying. And she was also a very warm person. The thing I loved so much about her was every time she saw me, she gave me a hug. She loved to give hugs. It was sort of her calling card."
Snodgrass said without fail, every time he saw Wolber, she would extend her love to his wife and mother-in-law. He said in her death, northern Colorado as a whole loses someone who loved people, places and things.
"We’ll all miss her," Snodgrass said. "Regardless of if it’s aviation or not."
Snodgrass said he was in communication with the jet center where the plane took off.
"I didn't, we didn't know who was in the airplane when the crash occurred, so we weren't sure, but we did know Sue was in one," Snodgrass said. "There were two Civil airplanes flying that day. So we knew Sue could possibly be in that. When I heard about the accident, I was really concerned. I texted Sue and said, 'I hope you're OK.' I also texted her husband."
Snodgrass said the reality that he won't feel Wolber's hugs again is setting in.
"I’m a little bit in shock and I don’t know where I’m at in all this, and I’m starting to get really angry, so the grief is moving over to anger, but yeah," Snodgrass said. "I don’t know. I’m just going to miss her. I’m gonna miss her."
Snodgrass said Wolber was heavily involved in the aviation world. She was a member of the Fort Collins-Loveland Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, Angel Flight West and Civil Air Patrol.
"Her passion was definitely aviation," Snodgrass said. "And her passion in aviation was really about encouraging girls and women to fly."
Snodgrass said a lot of their conversations in the air would pertain to increasing diversity in their shared field.
"We’re both, and I still am, very passionate about bringing more inclusiveness and diversity and women into aviation, and we would talk about how to do this, ways to encourage this," Snodgrass said.
Snodgrass said Wolber overcame many challenges as a woman in the industry. He said she was an excellent teacher, but had to prove herself over and over.
"She knew how meet everybody in a way that would have them realize not only was she a great instructor, she was somebody they could trust and be with," Snodgrass said. "This type of character that we’re going to miss in the aviation and on the planet."
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating what led up to the crash. The Civil Air Patrol said the plane went down during a search and rescue exercise training.
Snodgrass said he hopes to get some closure in the release of the accident report, because Wolber was a careful flyer. He said that trait makes the situation not only a tragedy, but shocking.
"If you talk to most pilots there at the airport, they’d say she was a really competent pilot," Snodgrass said. "I very much enjoyed her company, flying together."