Heather McRoberts

[Dj To Rule]

Today in class I heard the loss of Heather McRoberts, could not find any news online but definitley heard the sad news through her friends.

[Dugie8]

Lil more info please, name doesn't ring a bell.

[Dj To Rule]

Only info I know is what I heard, and what I found on google and facebook.
Friend found one news link

http://snowkiting.com/gallery/Heathe...3526bba51a6550

http://www.ellegirl.com/article/arti...articleId=4006

http://www.dailycamera.com

[Joekster]

Originally Posted by Dj To Rule

Today in class I heard the loss of Heather McRoberts, could not find any news online but definitley heard the sad news through her friends.

Wow, I hadn't heard yet Extemely sad right now.

I didn't know her extremely well, but she was probably the most outgoing person I have met. She was at the same flight course level as I am and had finished her instrument last spring. I don't think I quite believe it yet.

She was an amazing person who was always high on life and she will be sorely missed.

[bwade210]

I do not go to UND, but my prayers are with her friends and may god bless her soul as well as the gentleman with her in the plane.

[JaceTheAce]

Oh man, I cannot believe this happened. I just saw her not that long ago...driving her Honda CRV. Does anyone know what happened? This is the first time I heard. That girl was so full of life - it's so hard to believe that she is gone.

[JaceTheAce]

Here is the story, indeed very sad. Heather I will miss you.

Coroner IDs pilots from crash Heather McRoberts, David G. Para were experienced pilots
By Brittany Anas and Eric Schmidt, Camera Staff Writers
August 1, 2006
The two pilots killed after their airplane crashed into a mountain Sunday were experienced aviators who shared a love for the outdoors and were returning from a short camping trip, said family members and a friend. Heather J. McRoberts, 19, of Boulder, was flying the single-engine Citabria 7KCAB when it went down at about 7:30 a.m. Sunday near Betty Lake, about a half-mile east of the Continental Divide, authorities said. Passenger David G. Para, 30, of Boulder, also was killed in the crash.

Both died of multiple blunt force injuries, Boulder County Coroner Tom Faure said Monday, and their deaths were ruled accidents.
Coe Hargraves, a former instructor at Mile High Gliding in Boulder, was a longtime friend of both victims.
"They were both experienced, very well-trained pilots," said Hargraves, who now lives in Maui.
McRoberts and Para worked together towing gliders at Mile High Gliding, according to the McRoberts family.
The airplane — which was registered to Hargraves and was nicknamed "Fiona" — was flown by some of his former students. The plane was like a "magic carpet," Hargraves said, and McRoberts and Para had taken it to Kremmling for the short, overnight trip so they could sleep under the stars and watch the sun rise the next morning over the Continental Divide.
"They were free-spirited and loved being alive," Hargraves said.
The plane hit the south face of a mountain ridge at an elevation above 11,000 feet with its nose and left wing pointed downward, according to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators will now recover wreckage of the plane and examine its airframe and engine for signs of trouble, said Jennifer Kaiser, the National Transportation Safety Board investigator handling the crash. Authorities also will review weather conditions, the pilots' training records and routine toxicology and medical examinations, she said.
Kaiser said it's "entirely too early" to determine what caused the crash, and nothing stands out as a possible explanation.
Janet McRoberts, Heather's mother, said her daughter would not want anybody to be discouraged from flying because of the fatal accident.
"She'd live in vain if somebody were to say, 'Oh, I'm not going to fly because of what happened,'" Janet McRoberts said.
Heather McRoberts just finished her freshman year at the University of North Dakota, where she was working toward a four-year degree in aviation. She wanted to be an international airline pilot, her mother said, and she was a commercial pilot who recently earned her instrument rating.
"Flying was in her blood," Janet McRoberts said.
Heather McRoberts took her first flight when she was 3 weeks old with her father, David McRoberts, a commercial pilot. When she turned 14, the legal age for flying a glider solo, she celebrated her birthday alone in the sky with a Schweizer 232 glider plane, listening to Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'."
In 2004, Heather McRoberts toured the country for one month to promote youth and women in aviation, giving more than 60 rides to children.
"She didn't like people to have labels," Janet McRoberts said. "She believed you can do something because you can do it well; not because you are a boy or girl. She broke a lot of gender barriers, and she was good at what she did."
David McRoberts described his daughter as an outdoors enthusiast who loved nature and life. Her interests outside of flying included rock climbing, kayaking and kiteboarding.
He also described his daughter as outgoing, considering no one a stranger.
"She loved everybody," David McRoberts said. "When she was little, we told her, 'Be careful and don't talk to strangers.' She said 'I'll never talk to a stranger if I see one.'"
Para's family declined to comment Monday through a funeral director.
Hargraves described Para as the "friendliest guy in the world" who enjoyed snowboarding and rode his bicycle everywhere he went.
"He loved aviation, and he loved adventure," Hargraves said. "He loved to experience new things. He was such a kind person."
Contact Camera Staff Writer Brittany Anas at (303) 473-1132 or anasb@dailycamera.com.

[TheShocker]

Wow, this is totally sad! I remember seeing her a bunch of time around flight ops, a couple of times with her camera. Her presence will surely be missed RIP

[JaceTheAce]

Here is the NTSB preliminary

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...01X01066&key=1

[CaptainChris87]

what a Tragedy, she used to attend my Ground school with Bridewell though she did not always go because she had gotten her instrument rating prior to taking 102 spring of 06 semester. she sat not far orm me and at times we would talk on the bus form Odegard east bound on University after class. my condolances and prayers go out to her and her loved ones.

[Wild_Weasel]

I can't believe I just heard about this today while reading the dakota student, such a complete shock. I had taken several classes and talked with her a few times while waiting for the bus and stuff. She was such a friendly person...really saddening.