LOCAL

Plane crash 'still not real' for Makepeace family

Cassa Niedringhaus
The Coloradoan
A Fort Collins family — Jeff and Jennifer Makepeace and their children, Addison and Benjamin — was killed in a plane crash in Garfield County.

The last time Chuck Hickey saw his sister and her family, they were celebrating.

Jennifer and Jeff Makepeace were hosting a birthday party for their 10-year-old twins Sept. 9. When Hickey arrived at the family's Fort Collins home, he said his niece and nephew were bouncing on the trampoline and playing with their cousins and friends. 

One week later, Hickey raced to Glenwood Springs and received the devastating news that Jennifer, 45; Jeff, 47; the twins, Addison and Benjamin; and the family's dog had all died in a plane crash in Garfield County.

"It's still not real for all of us," Hickey said.  "I don't think it ever will be real that they're gone.

"It's not just my sister. It's my brother-in-law, who I've known for more than 15 years. It's my niece and nephew."

More:Funeral planned for Fort Collins family killed in plane crash

Ten years ago, Addison was born about 15 minutes before midnight Sept. 7, and Benjamin followed shortly thereafter on Sept. 8.

To celebrate their birthdays this year, the family hosted the party. That night, the twins camped by the Big Thompson River with their grandparents, and the next day the family barbecued and played in the water with inner-tubes.

The following Friday, Sept. 15, the family took off in a private plane from Northern Colorado Regional Airport bound for Moab, Utah, and a weekend at Arches National Park. The twins had planned to use their national parks passes — a free gift to fourth-graders from the federal government — to see the distinctive sandstone arches, Hickey said.

But the family never made it to Moab.

For reasons still under investigation, the family's plane lost radar contact about 10 p.m. Sept. 15, and first responders discovered the plane's wreckage about 9 miles north of Glenwood Springs the following morning. 

The Makepeace family purchased their plane about a year and a half ago. Jeff was meticulous and detail-oriented, Hickey said. He worked diligently to earn his pilot's license, and obtained it in March.

"He would never put those kids and Jen in any jeopardy," Hickey said. "We certainly believe that with this trip."

Previously:Authorities investigate plane crash that killed Fort Collins family

Hickey said the National Transportation Safety Board — the federal agency investigating the crash — shared some initial findings with the family. Based on that information, Hickey said he believes Jeff was navigating to get out of bad weather at the time of the crash. 

The NTSB will release a preliminary report on the incident in the coming weeks, but the complete investigation will likely take at least year, if not longer.

Hickey said both Jeff and Jennifer were outgoing, adventurous and kind — and they were beloved by their families and the community.

"They were always on the go," Hickey said. "They were always doing stuff together."

In 2006, Jeff purchased Lind's Plumbing and Heating from Robert Lind, and Hickey said Jeff ran the business like each of the employees was a family member. 

Jennifer helped manage the family's rental properties, volunteered at Bauder Elementary School and spent time at home with the children. 

"She was very family-oriented," Hickey said. "She got that from our parents."

The Makepeace family made frequent weekend trips to Steamboat Springs, especially in the winter when they could ski. They spent every Christmas in Baja, Mexico. 

Benjamin and Addison were happy children, Hickey said. They were game to tag along on their parents's adventures. Benjamin was mechanical-minded, and he loved to build things. Addison loved to bake and dress up in the style of "Little House on the Prairie."

Original story:Fort Collins family killed in Garfield County plane crash

Since the crash, Hickey has been organizing the family's funeral and getting their affairs in order. He sees it as his duty as the eldest brother of the family, and he feels he owes it to his sister to "make it as right as possible."

He said the family has been comforted by an overwhelming outpouring of support — whether it's a company offering to print funeral programs for free or people sharing their fond memories online or reaching out to Lind's with cards and flowers.

"Fort Collins is a big town, but it's still got some small town to it," Hickey said. "The way that they interacted with people and their generosity with their employees and their friends, their upbeat nature and how positively they affected people — the outpouring of support has renewed some confidence in the human spirit for me."

The Makepeace family funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 at Timberline Church, 2908 S. Timberline Road, in Fort Collins. The funeral is open to the public. 

"The one grateful thing," Hickey said. "They were on an adventure, and they were all together. They died together. They'll be together forever. ... It's sad and difficult to fully comprehend ... but they're together, and that means a lot."

More:These hot spots draw the most Larimer County rescue calls

How to help

In lieu of flowers, the families are asking that donations be made to the following:

  • ChildSafe: childsafecolorado.org
  • Garfield County Search and Rescue: garfieldcountysar.com/fundraising/donate
  • Makepeace family Bauder Elementary School donation account: Chase Bank,  2000 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, Colorado, 80525; 970-658-420; account number 3306861773
  • Naples (New York) Community Park: c/o Town of Naples, P.O. Box 535, Naples, New York, 14512; 585-374-2111
  • Friends of Larimer County Parks and Open Space: c/o Sharon Green, Secretary/Treasurer; P.O. Box 2715, Loveland, Colorado, 80539

Reporter Cassa Niedringhaus covers breaking news for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter: @CassaMN.