FOUR generations of the same family were killed when their plane crashed into a field as they headed home from a pheasant hunting trip.
Nine Americans – all of whom were related – died in the horror accident in South Dakota as they flew back to Idaho during winter blizzards.
Their plane crashed shortly after take-off at about 12:30 (18:30 GMT) local time from Chamberlain – which was under a winter storm warning at the time.
Three people amazingly survived the tragedy.
However, among the victims were Jim Hansen Sr and his two sons Kirk and Jim Jr – executives at Conrad & Bischoff, a petroleum company, and at skincare brand Kyani, which they founded.
Two of Kirk Hansen’s sons also died in the shocking crash, along with two of his sons-in-law.
The other victims were Jim Jr’s son and a grandson aged just seven.
They were travelling in a Pilatus PC-12 single-engine plane, which is not required to have a voice or flight data recorder, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed.
Investigators have not yet established a cause for the crash, but a spokesman told the Associated Press that weather would be one of the potential factors reviewed.
The tragedy occurred as a deadly winter storm hit the US, bringing now and ice as people made their way home after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
At least seven people have died – including two five-year-old children – as the lethal Nor’easter winter storm rips across America’s East Coast.
Seven New York counties are now under a state of emergency as the storm is set to slam 125 million people with up to two feet of snow now expected.
East Idaho News reported that the “Idaho Falls community has a dark cloud over it” after nine family members were killed in the plane crash.
Brule County emergency manager Katheryn Benton said that the passengers ranged in age from seven to 81.
She said the three survivors were men aged 17, 27 and 28.
The Brule County Sheriff’s Office confirmed there were “12 souls on board” the plane.
Pal Brian Wood, owner of Wood Funeral Home, posted a moving tribute to the men on Facebook, explaining that they were Good Samaritans who often helped others in the community.
He said: “This afternoon our town suffered a devastating loss.
“These two men, Jim and Kirk Hansen, are pillars of our community. They were in a plane crash with many of their family members on their way home from a Thanksgiving hunting trip.
“Nine out of the 12 of them perished, including Jim and Kirk, their father, sons and grandsons.
“Oftentimes people that lose a loved one are not financially prepared to pay for the many things surrounding their final expenses.
“Many, many times through the years I received a text message from Jim or Kirk asking if there was anyone having a hard time paying their bill.
Our community has a dark cloud over it now. They will never know the many lives they touched. I am better for knowing them.
Pal Brian Wood
“When there was, they’d give me their credit card number without a second thought and pay the bill for them.
“As I have been scrolling through old text messages from them, each text was either them looking for an opportunity to help others, or me thanking them for their generosity.”
East Idaho News reports that family members have travelled to South Dakota to visit the three survivors in hospital.
The publication said it would not report their conditions.
It added that the brothers and their dad helped lead the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – with one fellow churchgoer saying that “most people will never know just how much good the Hansen family has done.”
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However, because of bad weather in the crash area, investigators struggled to access the site, as roads have been closed nearby.
Powerful Storm Ezekiel has been pounding the area with snow and gales, stranding drivers as highways were closed due to dangerous conditions.
Chamberlain and central south-central South Dakota was under a winter storm warning on Saturday and planes were unable to land at Chamberlain at the time of the crash.
