Family members confirmed that Brownwood resident and business owner Barton Harris passed away as a result of a plane crash in Colorado on Wednesday.  The wreckage of the small aircraft that was spotted by a National Guard helicopter this morning was confirmed as the plane that lost radar contact yesterday afternoon while on approach to Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE). Eagle County Coroner Kara Bettis has confirmed two people were onboard the aircraft; both were killed in the crash.  The plane is a Beech 60 Duke twin engine, registered to Harris.

Sources close to the family state that 67-year-old Harris and friend 73-year-old Jerry Hoggatt of Pelham, Alabama were headed to Colorado on a ski trip.  Officials at Brownwood Regional Airport reported that Harris took off from Brownwood at 8:30a.m. Wednesday morning and arrived in Pueblo, Colorado at approximately 11:35a.m.

The aircraft lost radar contact at about 4:30 p.m. Dec. 15 as it approached Eagle County Regional Airport. Emergency responders worked through the night searching an area surrounding the last place a signal was received. Rescue crews arrived at the site of the crash, about 3.5 miles north of Edwards, at approximately 10:20 a.m. this morning. The site is in steep terrain at an elevation of about 10,800 feet.

An investigation will be conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board. The bodies of the victims have been recovered.

Agencies assisting in yesterday’s and today’s effort include Eagle County Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting, Eagle County Ambulance District, Eagle County Coroner’s Office, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle River Fire Protection District, Garfield Search and Rescue, Greater Eagle Fire Protection District, Salvation Army – Emergency Cantina, Summit County Search and Rescue, Vail Mountain Rescue, Vail Police Department and Western Eagle County Search and Rescue.

The family wishes to thank all those who helped in the search efforts.

A memorial service for Barton Harris is scheduled for 2pm Monday, December 20th at First Baptist Church of Brownwood. (Click Here for more information)

To review the previous article on the events leading up to the discovery of the wreckage, click here.