Utah Lake, Utah – In a tragic incident on Friday morning, September 27, 2024, Michael Hyrum Cox, 44, of St. George, Utah, was killed when the small plane he was piloting crashed into Utah Lake. The crash also claimed the life of his passenger, Mark Andrew Johnson, 46, of Washington, Utah.
The crash occurred around 10 a.m., approximately 0.5 miles northwest of Provo Airport. Authorities have confirmed that the aircraft, a single-engine plane, was cleared to land shortly before it went down. Rescue crews worked to recover the wreckage from about eight feet of water.
According to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, both men were pronounced dead at the scene after their bodies were found inside the submerged wreckage. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though it was noted that substantial damage to the plane suggested no one could have survived.
Condolences have poured in on social media. Susan Francis wrote, “How tragic… prayers for the family,” while Sandra Lamb expressed her sorrow, stating, “Absolutely heartbreaking!!”
Rescue efforts and investigations are ongoing as the community mourns the loss of two lives in this devastating accident.