Five Feared Dead in Colorado Plane Crash

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Dave Urbanski

MONTROSE, Colo. (AP) — A small plane believed to be carrying five people crashed into a reservoir in southwestern Colorado and authorities say all are feared dead.

The single-engine Socata TBM700 was flying from Bartlesville, Okla., to Montrose, about 180 miles southwest of Denver, when it went down Saturday, Ouray County spokeswoman Marti Whitmore said.

This photo provided by the Ouray County Plaindealer shows rescue personnel examining the tail second of a plane on Saturday, March 22, 2014 after it was recovered from the Ridgeway Reservoir south of Montrose. Colo. The plane believed to be carrying five people crashed into a reservoir in southwestern Colorado and authorities say all are feared dead. Divers are to be used Sunday to search for victims and to recover the rest of the plane. (Image source: AP/Ouray County Plaindealer, Patrick Moore)

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the plane crashed in Ridgeway Reservoir about 25 miles south of Montrose just before 2 p.m. Saturday. Rescue efforts started Saturday afternoon but were suspended shortly after sundown until Sunday morning.

Whitmore said no one is believed to have survived, but no victims have been recovered from the aircraft, which was located about 90 feet from shore in 60 to 90 feet of water.

This photo provided by the Ouray County Plaindealer shows rescue personnel towing the tail second of a plane on Saturday, March 22, 2014 after it was recovered from the Ridgeway Reservoir south of Montrose. Colo. (Image source: AP/Ouray County Plaindealer, Bill Tiedje)

"It's in deep water and it's in cold water, and we don't have the right resources in the county" to recover the plane, she said Sunday. Dive teams from Denver and Gunnison are expected to arrive at the reservoir Sunday afternoon.

The identities of the occupants were being withheld until relatives could be notified.

The plane is registered to an Alabama corporation. Messages left for the company weren't immediately returned.

Colorado State Parks has closed a nearby campground and day facilities, pending completion of the recovery efforts.

The crash occurred several weeks after three people died when a plane crashed after taking off from Telluride airport.