Colorado Firefighting Pilot Killed After Plane Crashes Into Reservoir

A pilot assisting crews battling a fast-moving Colorado wildfire was found dead after a firefighting aircraft went down in a mountain reservoir Sunday evening, officials said.

The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team recovered the pilot’s body from Silver Jack Reservoir, Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie said in a statement. The body is set to be transferred to the Gunnison County Coroner’s Office.

Authorities have not yet released the pilot’s identity as they work to notify next of kin.

The crash was reported around 5:17 p.m. Sunday, after the Gunnison Regional Communications Center received a call that an aircraft had crashed into Silver Jack Reservoir in the southwestern part of Gunnison County.

Sheriff’s officials said the aircraft had been assigned to the Gold Mountain Fire, which continues to burn in southwestern Colorado. Preliminary reports indicated the pilot was the only person aboard.

Officials have not determined what caused the crash. Deputies, investigators and the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office dive team all responded to the reservoir.

The Gold Mountain Fire has burned about 35,600 acres and was 5% contained as of Sunday, according to the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program. Fire officials expect the blaze to remain active, with shifting winds likely to push smoke into different communities over the next several days.

An air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke remains in effect across parts of central, southern and western Colorado.

Authorities said they will release additional information after the pilot’s next of kin has been notified.