Ryan Merker, Max Belnap, and John Belnap killed in small plane crash near Brookings, Oregon

Modified Date: 
Sun, 03/31/2019 - 11:32am
Accident Date: 
Monday, July 4, 2016

Family mourns teen feared dead in Brookings plane crash

Merker’s son, Ryan, was on board a plane with his friend Max Belnap. John Belnap, Max’s dad, was flying them home after spending the Fourth of July in Brookings. Merker said Ryan called Monday to get permission to ride in the plane. It would be his first time.

Co-owner says plane was in good condition; conditions on night of crash were calm but moonless

John Belnap took off from the Brookings Airport on a moonless Monday night in clear, calm conditions, and had told a friend earlier in the day he wouldn’t risk flying in bad weather.

Grants Pass father, son ID'd as Brookings plane crash victims

The bodies of 46-year-old John Belnap and 17-year-old Max Belnap were recovered last week near Brookings.

The sheriff tells the Grants Pass Daily Courier that the search for the third victim, 17-year-old Ryan Merker, has been halted because of rough seas but will resume when conditions improve.

Thieves mar memorial bench for Oregon teens killed in plane crash

Thieves stole two large slabs of elm from the bench over the weekend, leaving just a metal frame.

People Involved: 
Ryan Merker
Max Belnap
John Belnap

Add new comment

To prevent automated s-p-a-m submissions leave this field empty.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
6 + 6 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.