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Fatal Plane Crash Ignites Sedona Wildfire

Sedona AZ (July 20, 2014) “OFFICIAL UPDATE JULY 24, 2014 @ 1:32 PM – Sedona Plane Crash Victims Identified – The Yavapai County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identifies of 4 individuals killed in the plane crash near Sedona on Sunday, July 20, 2014.

Jonathan McGeary , 22, from Flagstaff, Arizona – indicated as the pilot; Levi Wallace, 23, from Prescott, Arizona; Johanna Naber, 18, from Shellbrook, Saskatchewan (Canada); and Sabrina Giebelen, 19, from Krefeld, Germany.

On behalf of YCSO, Sheriff Mascher would like to express his heartfelt condolences to the family of friends of those who died in this tragic accident.

There will be no further updates to this article.

“EXCLUSIVE UPDATE JULY 21, 2014 @ 11:06 PM – The SedonaEye.com Daily News and Views received an email this evening with the identities and photographs of the four deceased passengers in the Fay Canyon plane crash – http://youngfoundations.org/20102600_Prayer_Request#.U84ArMgDg5U.email as follows:

7.21.2014
Prayer Request

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

I Corinthians 12:26-27

It is with heavy hearts that we ask the Bride of Christ to join together in prayer for the families of four young people who were killed yesterday afternoon in a plane crash.

Brother Levi Wallace (Arizona), Brother Jonathan McGeary (Arizona), Sister Johanna Naber (Canada), and Sister Sabrina Giebelen (Germany) attended church yesterday morning in Flagstaff, Arizona. Afterwards, the four of them were on a short flight to Sedona, Arizona in a small, single-engine aircraft when their plane went down.

crash 1

crash 2
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crash 4

As we are grieving with the families, we can rest assured that these young brothers and sisters are in the Presence of our Lord Jesus. They have received their reward, but their loved ones who remain on earth are deeply suffering. Please join us in prayer as we lift up these families before the Great Comforter, our Lord Jesus.” (End email.)

“EXCLUSIVE UPDATE JULY 21, 2014 @ 1:30 PM* On site observers have preliminarily identified the single engine craft as a Cessna 182.”

“EXCLUSIVE UPDATE JULY 21, 2014 @ 1:00 PM* YCSO Spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn said four bodies were removed within the past hour and are in transport to the Yavapai County Medical Examiner for identification and notification of next of kin. The bodies are believed to be that of two men and two women. The FAA is on site and investigating the plane crash with the NTSB as the lead investigation unit. The plane is in the process of being identified and information on its origin and destination will be made public when known.”

“EXCLUSIVE UPDATE JULY 21 2014* Brady Smith, Public Affairs Officer of the Coconino National Forest advises that a hot shot crew and approximately 30 personnel remain at the scene of yesterday’s small plane crash in a Sedona box canyon. The crash victims bodies will be removed today and turned over to the Yavapai County Medical Examiner’s office for identification. The NTSB is investigating the cause of the crash. The Fay Fire, the wildfire ignited as a result of the canyon crash, has burned approximately 25 acres. More information as updates become available live from the scene.”

“EXCLUSIVE UPDATE*Four fatalities confirmed with the finding of a downed aircraft in Fay Canyon, Sedona, Arizona. As of 6:35 PM, there is no indication where the flight originated from or was bound, reports Sedona Fire District Fire Marshal Gary Johnson from the scene. Two Type 2 helicopters are dropping water on the fire after filling tanks at the Seven Canyons Golf Course, Sedona, Arizona. More live updates as information becomes available.” The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will join the plane crash investigation as first responders remain on the scene. The wildfire is showing signs of containment.

*EXCLUSIVE UPDATE* At 6:14 PM, an unofficial Sedona Airport spokesperson stated ‘…to the best of their knowledge no Sedona Airport planes are missing or unaccounted for at this time.’ More live updates as information becomes available.

*EXCLUSIVE UPDATE* A 3:30 PM call to the Sedona Fire Department reporting a downed aircraft has been confirmed as of 6:04 PM, with the discovery of the missing plane. Air water tanker support has been ordered and water will be dropped before nightfall, confirms Gary Johnson, Sedona Fire District Fire Marshal on site.

*EXCLUSIVE UPDATE* 6:04 PM from Sedona Fire District Fire Marshal Gary Johnson, “Single engine plane found…”

Exclusive preliminary report at 5:00 PM: The City of Sedona Arizona is battling another wildfire to its northwest, cause as yet unknown. Early smoke was visible in the afternoon sky at 4:00 PM, and within 30 minutes had rapidly developed into heavy smoke, as seen by exclusive SedonaEye.com photos below:

Exclusive SedonaEye.com photos of July 20 2014 Sedona Fay Canyon wildfire

Exclusive SedonaEye.com photos of July 20 2014 Sedona Fay Canyon wildfire

Sedona Fire District Fire Marshal Gary Johnson reporting live from the scene at 4:59 PM said SFD had three engines with support on scene and that the USFS had one engine with support. Johnson said a report of a downed aircraft in the vicinity was unable to be confirmed at this time, but that crews at the Fay Canyon Trail Head had observed a large plume of smoke. At press time, the wildfire has consumed approximately 20 acres in the canyon.

Exclusive SedonaEye.com Fay Canyon wildfire photos July 20 2014

Exclusive SedonaEye.com Fay Canyon wildfire photos July 20 2014

Fire Marshal Johnson says no structures appear threatened and no evacuations have been ordered as of 5:00 PM.

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Exclusive SedonaEye.com Fay Canyon wildfire photos July 20 2014

sedona fire 5

Exclusive SedonaEye.com Fay Canyon wildfire photos July 20 2014

For the best Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

For the best Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

43 Comments

  1. Wendy Tanzer says:

    Thank you for your timely reporting!

  2. Will Wood says:

    Plane crash in Fay Canyon….

  3. Sedona Fire Marshal Gary Johnson confirms “Single engine plane found…” at 6:04 PM – more updates to come

  4. Unofficial Airport spokesperson stated that to the best of their knowledge no Sedona Airport planes are missing or unaccounted for at this time…

  5. E. Maddock says:

    Agreeing with Wendy Tanzer: “Thank you for your timely reporting!”

    And the photos? Great job Publisher/Editor.

  6. Corie White says:

    Not another one!!!

  7. Four fatalities confirmed with the finding of downed aircraft in Fay Canyon, Sedona, Arizona. As of 6:35 PM, there is no indication where the flight originated from or was bound, reports Sedona Fire District Fire Marshal Gary Johnson reporting from scene. Two Type 2 helicopters are dropping water on the fire after filling tanks at the Seven Canyons Golf Course, Sedona, Arizona. More live updates as information becomes available.

  8. Oh no. I love it there.

  9. Will Wood says:

    Ok. Good to know what happened.

  10. As of 7:20 PM, the Sedona Fire District reports no additional information on the airplane or identities of the four deceased passengers in the downed airplane in Fay Canyon, Sedona, Arizona…

  11. So sad! Too much insanity up there this year! Prayers for the families and the canyon, the firefighters, animals, beauty and anyone else affected by this.

  12. FAA please review your policies about low flying sightseeing planes in wilderness areas.

  13. Wendy Tanzer says:

    Hats off – once again – to our first responders.

  14. As of 9:40 PM, no identities of the aircraft and or its four passengers has been possible. The NTSB and FAA are involved in the investigation along with the initial first responders, the USFS and Sedona Fire Department. The plane crash and wildfire fall within the Red Rock Ranger District.

  15. Authorities report a small plane crashed in northern Arizona’s Mohave County near the Utah border, killing two people. This crash is in addition to the Sedona, Arizona, plane crash that killed four the same afternoon.

    Sgt. John T. Bottoms of the Arizona Department of Public Safety told Salt Lake City’s KSL-TV that the crash occurred about 6:30 p.m. local time.

    Bottoms said that crews hiked to reach the plane perched on a ledge, and used water backpacks to extinguish the blaze.

    The FAA says that the Mohave County site and the Sedona, Arizona, planes went down “under unknown circumstances” and were on fire. The FAA and the NTSB will investigate both crashes.

  16. I’ve been told that the smoke from the nearby Willard Fire between Oak Creek Canyon and I-17 is being managed for resource purposes. Stay indoors if you experience lung or heart problems!

  17. PLANE CRASH UPDATE says:

    Brady Smith, Public Affairs Officer of the Coconino National Forest, advises that a hot shot crew and approximately 30 personnel remain at the scene of yesterday’s small plane crash in a Sedona box canyon. The crash victims bodies will be removed today and turned over to the Yavapai County Medical Examiner’s office for identification. The NTSB is investigating the cause of the crash. The Fay Fire, the wildfire ignited as a result of the canyon crash, has burned approximately 25 acres. More information as updates become available live from the scene.

  18. L. Smith says:

    I teach in Idaho. I plan to share this and your site with my class in the fall when we discuss current event coverage. What I really like is that you didn’t show pictures of the burned plane. There are families who’ll be devastated enough about the gruesome news without seeing gory wreckage. Fine work with a higher consciousness!

    Please let me sign this as L.Smith without my hometown listed. This is my opinion and not the school system. Thanks!!!

  19. YCSO Spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn said four bodies were removed within the past hour and are in transport to the Yavapai County Medical Examiner for identification and notification of next of kin. The bodies are believed to be that of two men and two women. The FAA is on site and investigating the plane crash with the NTSB as the lead investigation unit. The plane is in the process of being identified and information on its origin and destination will be made public when known.

  20. On site observers have preliminarily identified the plane as a Cessna 182 single engine craft.

  21. via Facebook share:

    We’re deeply saddened to hear the news of the Sedona plane crash and the passing of an amazing hockey player and an even better person. Levi Wallace was a ‘lead by example’ type of guy both on and off of the rink. Growing up and getting to watch Levi play was always a treat. His “dangles” would be on the highlight reel of every tournament he played in. Wherever you’d see him he always had a smile on his face. We’ll miss you, man. Thoughts and prayers with the families and friends of those we lost.

  22. Due to delays in confirming the identities of all victims and their respective next of kin notifications, there will be no update regarding identification today. We will be in consultation with the medical examiner tomorrow in hopes of further information.

    Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office

  23. 7.21.2014
    Prayer Request
    And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

    Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

    I Corinthians 12:26-27

    It is with heavy hearts that we ask the Bride of Christ to join together in prayer for the families of four young people who were killed yesterday afternoon in a plane crash.

    Brother Levi Wallace (Arizona), Brother Jonathan McGeary (Arizona), Sister Johanna Naber (Canada), and Sister Sabrina Giebelen (Germany) attended church yesterday morning in Flagstaff, Arizona. Afterwards, the four of them were on a short flight to Sedona, Arizona in a small, single-engine aircraft when their plane went down.

    As we are grieving with the families, we can rest assured that these young brothers and sisters are in the Presence of our Lord Jesus. They have received their reward, but their loved ones who remain on earth are deeply suffering. Please join us in prayer as we lift up these families before the Great Comforter, our Lord Jesus.

  24. Once again, thank you for the timely updates. Sedona Eye rocks!

  25. Melody Sharp says:

    why isn’t this on fb?? these are babies!! RIP

    (Note from Editor: A decision was made last evening to not social network the information. We advised the Sheriff’s office and the FAA early yesterday of the information we had received and asked for verification, and notified that we would update our story at 11:00 PM. We will social network to our @SedonaTimes sites after the YCSO Medical Examiner officially verifies and releases the information. Thank you.)

  26. People better value every second of their lives and others lives and families lives. Watch your words to each other. Be respectful. Think what these young people would have given to have your problems and issues.

  27. Gary says:

    life is so valuable and sometimes short

  28. Seeing those young faces makes us want to hug our kids and our loved ones every second of every day. God rest your souls and give your families peace in these dark days ahead. We will pray and ask others to do the same.

    Priscilla Wainwright
    Irene Wainwright
    Helena Smith
    Oliver Morris
    Tonya Gaither
    Renee Flick
    Barnaby Vickers
    Shellie Marie Alvarez
    Gunther Pusey
    Mac Thompson
    Olive Clara Fedderly
    Corlen Bach
    Ardis Ingraham
    Michael Mark Doll
    Sid Rose
    Rodder Lynn
    Aiden Smith
    M.J. Butcher
    Lana Ehrlich
    Handy Jefferson
    Bob Tosh
    Mercedes McCann

  29. Shared this article on Facebook with friends.

  30. Heidi Meyer says:

    This is so sad…Sending prayers to the family and friends of the victims

  31. YCSO Identification Update says:

    July 24, 2014 at 1:31:36 PM PDT Sedona Plane Crash Victims Identified – The Yavapai County Medical Examiner has confirmed the identifies of 4 individuals killed in the plane crash near Sedona this past Sunday, July 20, 2014.

    Jonathan McGeary , 22, from Flagstaff, Arizona – Indicated as the pilot; Levi Wallace, 23, from Prescott, Arizona; Johanna Naber, 18, from Shellbrook, Saskatchewan (Canada); and Sabrina Giebelen, 19, from Krefeld, Germany.

    On behalf of YCSO, Sheriff Mascher would like to express his heartfelt condolences to the family of friends of those who died in this tragic accident.

  32. Oh Man, They were just kids !

  33. Too young to loose their lives! Prayers and healing thoughts to their families and friends!

  34. Darrell Land says:

    your coverage was the best. applause from a FB and Twitter fan.

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