The victims of the Saturday’s plane crash north of the Buffalo Bill Reservoir along Big Tree Creek have been identified. The pilot was identified as Donald Edward Scott, 66, from Denver, Colorado, according to the Park County Sheriff’s Office. He was accompanied by his friend, Joyce Bartoo, age unknown, from Washington DC as well as his sister, Diane Jean Stubbs, 68, and her husband, Gerald Bruce Stubbs, 69, both from Annapolis, Maryland. All four died in the crash.

Scott was piloting a 1979 Cessna 310 fixed wing multi-engine prop plane (N72TP) owned by Independence Aviation, LLC out of Englewood, Colorado when the crash occurred. The aircraft left the Sheridan County Airport Saturday morning sometime after 11 a.m. bound for Billings.  

Shortly after takeoff, Scott deviated from his scheduled flight path and headed to Yellowstone National Park. After circling the park, Scott headed once again to Billings. However shortly afterward, he suddenly turned due east towards Cody and immediately went into a steep descent. No further voice contact was made with Scott as the plane dropped below radar at 11:56 a.m.  

The Park County Search and Rescue reached the crash scene shortly after 3 p.m. on Saturday and confirmed there were no survivors. On Sunday, they returned to the scene to remove the bodies which were taken to Billings on Monday for autopsies.  

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board also visited the crash site and began their investigation on Monday and have taken over as lead investigative agency. The NTSB has been in contact with the plane’s insurer and removal of the wreckage is scheduled within the next several weeks, according to the Sheriff’s Office.