Benno Anthony Penna, 32, and his wife, Megan Michele Hawk Penna, also 32, were killed on impact when their helicopter crashed in the mountains north of Alpine sometime Friday. This photo was posted on Facebook about 10 a.m. Friday by Megan Penna. The Uintah County couple leave behind a son, age 6, and a daughter, age 5. Photo: Facebook
ALPINE, Utah (AP) — A husband and wife from Ballard have been identified as the two people killed in the crash of a small helicopter in the central Utah mountains.
Utah County Sheriff’s officials say the pilot was 32-year-old Benno Anthony Penna with his 32-year-old wife Megan Michele Hawk Penna as the passenger.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash that occurred Friday on a steep, snow slope near Alpine 22 miles (35 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City.
Family members of the victims reported the helicopter overdue on a flight from Vernal Regional Airport in eastern Utah to South Valley Regional Airport in metro Salt Lake City.
Authorities recovered the two bodies Saturday.
The couple leaves behind two children — a 6-year-old boy and a 5-year-old-girl.