A plane that crashed in northeast New Mexico left one West Texas man dead on Sunday.
New Mexico State Police said 59-year-old Marvin Monroe Casey of Big Spring was pronounced dead on the scene.
This story by Haley Harrison originally appeared on CBS7.
“You couldn’t ask for a better man than Marvin. He would give you the shirt off his back. Just an awesome guy,” said Danny Eagle, a long-time friend of Casey’s. “I have a sour stomach. I just can’t believe it. When I heard it – I’m in awe.”
The Federal Aviation Association told us a Cirrus SR-22 was reported missing by Denver Air Traffic Control around 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
State police said the call came in about the downed aircraft around 4:15 p.m.
Federal Aviation Association said its last known position was about 50 miles south of Farmington, N.M.
On Monday, Casey’s two stores, Casey’s Aircooled Engine and Casey’s Campers, were closed. Instead, purple memorial wreaths were left behind.
A friend of Casey’s said his memory will stay alive in the community of Big Spring.
“Everybody in town knew Marvin. Funny. Always cracking jokes. You couldn’t ask for a better man,” Eagle said.
The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.