Two people were killed when a small plane crashed in an open area of Broomfield’s Anthem Ranch on Friday, authorities say.
The crash happened just before noon, according to the North Metro Fire Rescue District.
The plane, a single-engine, home-built Mustang II, crashed under unknown circumstances about half a mile south of Erie Municipal Airport, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The plane is described as a high-performance aircraft designed for sport and cross-country flying. The typical cost of building a Mustang, from a standard kit, is about $50,000, according to Mustang Aero’s website.
The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.
Neighbors at the scene say the area is an easement for the airport in Erie.
Guy Gilson, who lives nearby, was home at the time of the crash and heard the plane go down.
“I had just walked outside and heard this ‘kaboom,'” Gilson told the newspaper.
Gilson, who has lived in the area for nine years, used to fly private aircraft, he said. He instantly recognized the sound of the crash.
Winds in the area at the time of the crash were gusting up to 23 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
The pilot of a small plane that was “coming in low” would have to deal with cross winds and down drafts, Gilson said.
