The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identities of two deceased individuals following a fatal plane crash near Kneeland Airport at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, July 23.
The pilot of the Cessna has been identified as 49-year-old Gabriel Joshua Kulp of Grass Valley, California. The passenger, a helicopter mechanic, has been identified as 60-year-old Thomias Edward Smith of Carmichael, California. At this time, only these two bodies have been recovered from the wreckage.
Next of kin have been notified. An autopsy will be completed in the coming days to confirm the cause of death. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The NTSB can be contacted at (202) 314-6000.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the families of those lost in this tragic accident.
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