Rescuers recover body of pilot from plane wreakage

BLACK HAWK — Rescuers used a snowcat and climbed a steep mountainside Friday to recover the body of the pilot of a single-engine plane that crashed in the mountains west of Denver. Professional golfer Jeff Maggert said his brother, Barry Maggert, died in the crash.

Snow slowed rescuers’ efforts to reach the site Friday, a rugged, forested area just west of the gambling town of Black Hawk, 40 miles west of Denver. Crews used snowshoes to climb and reach the wreckage.

The plane, a 1965 Cessna 1982 co-owned by Barry Maggert, went down Thursday. The pilot reported engine trouble before the plane dropped off radar at 3:45 p.m., said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were investigating.

A 23-year-old passenger was rescued before nightfall Thursday and flown to a Denver hospital.

Barry Maggert, of Carbondale, was on his way to Boulder for his son Lee’s graduation from the University of Colorado. He had 23-year-old twin sons, Lee and Bryant. Gilpin County officials were waiting for the family arrive to release the name of the passenger.

Jeff Maggert withdrew from The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on Thursday, telling tournament officials that his older brother died in the crash.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeff and his family,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.

Lee Maggert was to graduate from the University of Colorado Friday.

University spokesman Bronson Hilliard said a moment of silence is traditionally held before each commencement ceremony for students and students’ family members who died during the school year but that the Maggert family was not mentioned at Friday’s ceremony.