USU plane crash victims Blake L. Shumway and Michael A. Carpenter. (Photos: Family members)
LOGAN — Memorial services have been announced for the two men killed in Friday’s plane crash near Mendon. Blake Lamar Shumway and Michael Allen Carpenter were flying the Utah State instructor plane when it went down in a hay field.
A funeral for Shumway will be held Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Solitude Mountain Resort’s Last Chance Lodge. A similar service for Carpenter will take place Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Canyon Ridge Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Spanish Fork.
Shumway was a certified flight instructor and had worked for USU Aviation since September 2021. Carpenter was majoring in aviation technology, to become a professional pilot and was scheduled to graduate in the fall.
Family members said both men had a passion for flying and they died while doing what they loved.
Shumway’s obituary described how the 24-year-old enjoyed hiking, rock climbing, skiing, flying, or finding some adventure in the great outdoors. He leaves behind a wife of just over one year.
Carpenter had a “zest for life,” according to his obituary. He loved snowboarding, hiking and camping. The 25-year-old was remembered for his generous and kind heart, his quick wit, and his love for life.
The instructor plane went down around 9:00 a.m. Friday, west of 2831 S. State Road 23, near the base of the Wellsville Mountains. Witnesses quickly arrived at the crash site and assisted in guiding law enforcement and EMS personnel onto the scene. It was learned by the witnesses that there were no survivors of the crash.
The Cache County Sheriff’s Office originally cordoned off the area, interviewed witnesses and collected evidence at the crash site. They were assisted by investigators from Utah State University, victims’ services from The Cache County Attorney’s Office and from USU. The Utah Highway Patrol also helped with scene documentation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now investigating the cause of the crash.
will@cvradio.com