David Colin Dacus, 49, from San Francisco, died at the scene of the incident.
Tragic death of David Colin Dacus in western Minnesota plane crash
The Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that David Colin Dacus, a 49-year-old man originally from San Francisco, was pronounced deceased at the location where the accident occurred. Mark Ryan Ruff, who was also on the aircraft and approximately ten years younger, managed to survive the situation.
The tragic event began when air traffic control received notification around 5:23 p.m. regarding engine troubles with a jet aircraft situated near the Granite Falls Municipal Airport. Shortly after, within a very short timeframe, emergency services were alerted by a 911 call reporting that the aircraft had encountered difficulties and crashed close to Highway 23.
Emergency responders discovered Mark Ryan Ruff standing by the roadside and provided him with necessary medical care. As of now, the authorities have not released any information regarding the identity of the pilot operating the plane at the time of the accident.
The Bloomington Police Department dispatched its bomb squad, and the Minnesota National Guard’s 148th Air Wing was also on the scene. Their specialized teams were crucial in safely removing an unused ejection seat cartridge from the wreckage.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the type of jet involved in the fatal accident was an Aero Vodochody L-39. The National Transportation Safety Board has officially been tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. Officials from the sheriff’s office mentioned that the damaged wreckage will be relocated to a different site for detailed examination.
