Murder-Suicide Suspected in Light Plane Crash
Police said today that a plane crash that killed two people earlier this week may have been a murder-suicide perpetrated by the passenger in the twin-engine Cessna.
Police spokesman David Grimm said local authorities have asked the National Transportation Safety Board for permission to take control of the crash site.
The pilot, Bill Layne, 56, of Aurora and a passenger died Sunday when their twin-engine Cessna 421 Golden Eagle crashed into a residential neighborhood in southwest Boulder.
The crash destroyed several outbuildings and garages and one vacant home. A man who was thrown 40 feet out of his garage by the impact suffered a broken hip.
Grimm said the passenger was tentatively identified as Gordon Larry Hood, 45. He said Hood originally was from the Atlanta area but recently lived in Denver.
Grimm said investigators contacted two “friends and associates” of Hood’s who live out of state and both reported that the man was suicidal.
“The sources told us there were indications made to them that Mr. Hood was potentially contemplating suicide, and in a manner similar to what occurred,” Grimm said.
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