MESA COUNTY, Colo. - On July 10, 2026, at approximately 4:40 p.m., deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a report of a downed small engine aircraft. Early information indicates the crash is located south and east of Highway 141, between the towns of Whitewater and Gateway. Due to the remoteness of the crash site, deputies are still making their way on foot as of 7 p.m.

The Grand Junction Regional Communication Center initially dispatched the Gateway Unaweep Fire District and deputies. The pilot was able to self-report, along with the adult passenger, they both walked away from the crash site. The pilot and passenger were transported by CareFlight of the Rockies to an area hospital.

This was reported as a small engine plane with two adult souls on board, and was not a commercial flight. The reason for the crash is unknown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and possibly other federal entities are in charge of the aircraft crash investigation.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.