A 19-year-old pilot, once profiled for her flying skills in a national magazine, was killed in a plane crash Sunday morning in a remote area of Boulder County.
Heather McRoberts and her 30-year-old passenger, David Para, were killed as they were flying to work at Mile High Gliding in Boulder. They were Boulder residents.
McRoberts was an experienced pilot who had already logged thousands of hours in an airplane despite her age. “Her heart was in flying all of her life,” said her grandmother, Ann McRoberts.
She planned to become a commercial airline pilot, just like her father. She was featured last year in ELLEgirl magazine. The article described her flying near a hurricane and flying antique planes from the 1940s.
McRoberts had more experience than some older pilots. On her 14th birthday, she flew a glider plane solo. At 16, she obtained her glider pilot’s license.
Early Sunday morning, McRoberts was flying a small two-seater aircraft with Para in the passenger seat when it crashed near Rollins Pass, according to the Boulder County coroner. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The two friends were on their way to work, where they towed glider planes, said David Campbell, owner of Mile High Gliding. Campbell knew something was wrong when the pair did not show up for work.
“They both lived a full and good life before it was cut short,” he said. “They were both fantastic pilots and employees.”
Coe Hargraves, 27, used to own the plane that McRoberts was flying. He named it Fiona.
“Those are three of my best friends that went down,” he said.
Hargraves said he, McRoberts and Para were part of a group of tight-knit young pilots who hung out at the Boulder Airport.
“They are two of the most fabulous people in the entire world,” he said. “Heather was a bright light in the world. She was very fearless in trying anything new.”
Hargraves said Para told him he was content with his job and his life – flying and riding his bicycle to work.
“He was a very gentle, adventurous soul that was kind to every person,” Hargraves said.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-820-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.
