Tragedy for Glen Helen Raceway Owner

A plane crash in Butte, Mont. has claimed the lives of 14 people including members of Glen Helen Raceway owner Bud Feldkamp’s family.

Two of Feldcamp’s daughters were killed in the March 22 crash, Amy Jacobson of St. Helena, Calif. and Vanessa Pullen of Lodi, Calif. Jacobson’s husband Erin and their children, Taylor, 4, Ava, 3, and Jude, 1, also died in the crash as did Pullen’s husband, Michael, and their children Sydney, 9, and Christopher, 7.

Also killed in the crash were Brent and Kristin Ching, of Durham, Calif., and their children, Hailey, 5, and Caleb, 3, and the pilot, Bud Summerfield.

The single-engine Pilatus PC-12 crashed into a cemetery near the Butte airport. The flight was originally scheduled to fly from Oroville, Calif. to Bozeman, Mont. where the three families had planned a skiing vacation at the Yellowstone Club. Along the way, the pilot notified air traffic control he was diverting to Butte.

The plane was owned by seven people including Feldkamp who had driven to the Yellowstone Club for the family vacation.

“We were going on a vacation with all the grandkids,” Feldkamp told The Associated Press. At the entrance of the club, Feldkamp received a phone call from a nephew. “He saw it on CNN. He said ‘Nobody survived.’ And we knew it was our plane.”

Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, Calif. released a statement recognizing the letters and calls of support Feldkamp received.

“Racers, fans and industry members have responded with overwhelming support, showcasing our tight-knit community,” the statement reads.

Feldkamp and the staff at Glen Helen ask that all best wishes be sent to:

Glen Helen Raceway Park
PO Box 6950
San Bernardino, CA 92412