Wednesday, June 03, 2015

Cessna 182Q Skylane, N759ASL Fatal accident occurred June 01, 2015 near Fort Nelson, British Columbia

Photo taken a few days ago: Jim and Gloria Holte, with Jim's Cousin, Wayne Bekkerus, in Beaverlodge, Alberta.
Photo Credit/Courtesy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com


“Flying was a lifelong dream of mine” - Grygla pilot, Jim Holte.
Photo Credit/Courtesy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com



Deanna Coan photography, Goodridge, MN. Deanna is niece of Gloria and Jim Holte.



GRYGLA, Minn. -- A northwest Minnesota couple were killed Monday in an airplane crash in northern British Columbia.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Department confirmed that the victims were Grygla residents Jim and Gloria Holte, who reportedly were flying from Minnesota to Alaska.

Grygla is a town of about 225 residents in Marshall County, about 90 miles northeast of Grand Forks.

The wreckage of the small plane, reported as a Cessna 182, was discovered at about 8:30 p.m. Monday near Fort Nelson, British Columbia. Federal Aviation Administration registration records show a Cessna 182Q has been registered to Jim Holte since 2005.

The Joint Rescue Communication Centre in Victoria say the plane veered off course Monday, according to the Canadian Press. Officials said the weather was "active" at the time and could have been a factor.

The couple apparently had stopped for fuel at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, but failed to arrive at their next scheduled fuel stop in Watson Lake, Yukon, about 430 air miles away.

Fort Nelson is about 230 air miles northwest of Dawson Creek.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Department received a call from Canadian Search and Rescue Monday afternoon, requesting that the department check on the the Holtes after the emergency beacon was activated on the aircraft, which could not be found on radar.

Canadian authorities used two airplanes and a helicopter in the search.

No other people were on board the Holtes' aircraft.

Jim Holte, owner of Grygla-based Holte Flying Service, recently retired, according to the Sheriff's Department. He owned the crop spraying business for more than 30 years and kept two hobby planes around to use during retirement, according to a July 2014 story in the Grygla Eagle newspaper.

In addition to crop spraying, he taught people how to fly. In times of crisis, he also flew emergency medical flights to the Twin Cities and Rochester, Minn.

At the time, he told the Eagle he had crashed three of his planes during his time as a sprayer but was never hurt.

"Airplanes are very safe but you can get into trouble with them fast," he said in the article.

An outpouring of sympathies followed the announcement on social media, with those who knew the couple or their three sons posting condolences on the Eagle's Facebook page.

One photo posted to the page shows the couple smiling and posing next to the Cessna. The accompanying caption indicates the picture was taken a few days ago in Beaverlodge, Alberta, where the Holtes were visiting family.

Funeral arrangements are pending for the couple.

Source:  http://www.twincities.com

JAMES K. HOLTE:    http://registry.faa.gov/N759AS

Date: 02-JUN-15
Time: 00:43:00Z
Regis#: N759AS
Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Aircraft Model: 182
Event Type: Accident
Highest Injury: Fatal
Damage: Unknown
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
FAA FSDO:   FAA Seattle FSDO-01
City: FORT NELSON BRITISH COLUMBIA
Country: Canada

AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE 2 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, 75 MILES FROM FORT NELSON, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

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