Spencer Kihlstrom, 19, and Jeremiah Linnertz, 19, both from Chino Valley, have been identified as the victims in deadly plane crash near the Prescott Airport.
At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a possible missing aircraft based out of the Prescott airport. It had been at least 24 hours since last contact with the pilot. Electronic tracking efforts were initiated immediately. Just before noon, a confirmed missing aircraft report was issued by airport authorities identifying a single engine Cessna. Assisted by the Department of Public Safety, personnel checked all surrounding local airports without success.
Just before 1:00 p.m., aided by cell phone tracking and confirmation from the plane’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), Rescue 1 spotted the downed aircraft near Perkinsville Ranch land, several miles east of Paulden, Arizona. Ground crews eventually arrived and confirmed that both young men were deceased.