Many of you might be aware that I found PoA due to the loss of a dear friend and fellow ski instr/PSIA examiner, John Lancaster (FlingWing), when his helicopter crashed in the GoM.
I was devastated to find out this morning that this crash was two more of my ski instr friends. Larry Berg and his wife Vicki Garves-Berg were both ski instrs and Examiners with the Central Division of PSIA.
Vicki was also a part time instr with me here in Vail. We spent many hrs talking flying in the locker room and over a few beers. Just this past Xmas holiday, Vicki and Larry were telling me that they had sold their previous aircraft and were so excited about taking delivery of an SR-20. They had only taken delivery of their SR-20 a few weeks ago.
The following is an announcement distributed by the PSIA-C office.
PSIA-C Examiners Vicki and Larry Berg Lost in Plane Crash
Long-time Alpine Education Staff examiners Vicki Garves-Berg and Larry Berg perished when their private plane crashed in western Wisconsin on Friday, January 30, at shortly after 9:40 p.m. Cause of the fatal tragedy is not known as of Monday morning.
Larry and Vicki both served as Central Division examiners for many years, provided clinic leadership for PSIA events, and delivered clinic and technical leadership for several snowsports schools in Wisconsin and Minnesota. In recent years Vicki was a leader in rejuvenating and expanding Central Division's "Train the Trainer" accreditation program. Both Vicki and Larry served on the Alpine Education and Certification Committee. Vicki also was an instructor for Vail.
Larry and Vicki took delivery of their Cirrus SR20 several weeks ago, with the engine completely rebuilt by the manufacturer. News media reported that Larry was "an experienced pilot", and had filed a routine instrument flight plan from Sheboygan, Wisconsin to their home base in New Richmond, Wisconsin. When their plane disappeared from radar screens their assigned flight level was 4,000 feet. Local witnesses, who feared the aircraft might hit a nearby home, reported that they saw plane lights but did not hear any motor noise. Reports from the scene describe a wooded area, flames, and debris strewn over an area roughly 150 feet wide and 400 feet long in Dunn County, north of Menomonie, Wisconsin.
A third passenger, 44 year old Brett Weller, from Hudson, Wisconsin, apparently rode along with Larry to Sheboygan. There they picked up Vicki. Larry often flew Vicki to and from her anesthetist service provided to hospitals throughout Wisconsin.
This tragic loss of Vicki and Larry is painful for hundreds of friends and colleagues in the community of snowsports instructors. PSIA/AASI Central extends condolences to Vicki and Larry's families and friends. "The Bergs" will be missed.
May you find fair winds and clear skies, my friends..... you will be missed!
I know how unreliable witnesses can be, but that's a new one.
Sounds like it may have cooked off though.