Utah man crashes a plane into home with his estranged wife and a boy inside

Duane Youd (pictured) was killed when he flew a small plane into his own house early Monday morning after he had been arrested 

A Utah man flew a small plane into his own house early Monday just hours after he had been arrested for assaulting his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems, authorities said.

Duane Youd was killed in the crash after he piloted the twin-engine Cessna 52 from a nearby airport. 

His estranged wife, Sandy, and a child who were in the home got out and survived despite the front part the two-story house being engulfed in flames, Payson police Sgt Noemi Sandoval said.

Sandoval said she didn’t know if the boy was Youd’s son or his wife’s from another marriage. 

The crash occurred around 2.30am on Monday in Payson, a city of about 20,000 residents 60 miles south of Salt Lake City. 

Investigators believe the plane belonged to Youd’s employer and that he intentionally flew into his own house, Sandoval said. 

Authorities said Youd was an experienced pilot. It wasn’t immediately clear who employed Youd, but according to his Facebook page, he worked as a MedEvac pilot.

Youd was arrested about 7.30pm Sunday after witnesses called police to report that he was assaulting his wife, Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt Spencer Cannon said. 

Youd was arrested just hours before he smashed into the home where his estranged wife, Sandy, and a child were sleeping. Police said Youd had assaulted his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems

Youd was arrested just hours before he smashed into the home where his estranged wife, Sandy, and a child were sleeping. Police said Youd had assaulted his wife in a nearby canyon where the couple went to talk over their problems

The crash occurred around 2.30am on Monday in Payson, a city of about 20,000 residents 60 miles south of Salt Lake City

The crash occurred around 2.30am on Monday in Payson, a city of about 20,000 residents 60 miles south of Salt Lake City

The couple had been drinking and went to American Fork Canyon to talk about problems they were having.

Youd was booked into jail on suspicion of domestic violence and then bailed out, Cannon said. 

He requested an officer escort to go to his home so he could get his truck and some belongings around midnight. That occurred without incident, Sandoval said.

Within hours, Youd was taking off in the plane from the Spanish Fork-Springville Airport about 15 miles north of his house. 

He flew directly to his neighborhood and smashed into his house, Sandoval said.

Photos of the wreckage showed the white plane charred and in pieces in the front yard nearby an overturned and crushed car. Most of the upscale house was still intact, but heavily burned in the front.

Youd is pictured with his wife Sandy

Youd and Sandy pictured together

His wife, Sandy (pictured, together left and right) and a child who were in the home got out and survived the crash, despite the front part the two-story house being engulfed in flames, Payson police Sgt Noemi Sandoval said

Before the crash Youd was booked into jail on suspicion of domestic violence and then bailed out. Federal Aviation Administration officials investigate the scene of a plane crash in Payson, Utah

Before the crash Youd was booked into jail on suspicion of domestic violence and then bailed out. Federal Aviation Administration officials investigate the scene of a plane crash in Payson, Utah

Police had responded one previous time to the house on a domestic violence incident, Sandoval said. 

Online court records show that Youd agreed on July 23 to attend marriage and family counselling sessions for six months as part of a plea agreement following an April 8 domestic violence incident in which he was charged with disorderly conduct.

In 2008, Youd earned a bachelor’s degree from Utah Valley University where he studied Professional Aeronautical Science.

Sandy works as a real estate agent. She previously worked as a bus driver for the Nebo School District. 

He requested an officer escort to go to his home so he could get his truck and some belongings around midnight

He requested an officer escort to go to his home so he could get his truck and some belongings around midnight

Within hours, Youd was taking off in the plane from the Spanish Fork-Springville Airport about 15 miles north of his house. He flew directly to his neighborhood and smashed into his house, Sandoval said 

Within hours, Youd was taking off in the plane from the Spanish Fork-Springville Airport about 15 miles north of his house. He flew directly to his neighborhood and smashed into his house, Sandoval said 

Photos of the wreckage showed the white plane charred and in pieces in the front yard nearby an overturned and crushed car. Most of the upscale house was still intact, but heavily burned in the front

Photos of the wreckage showed the white plane charred and in pieces in the front yard nearby an overturned and crushed car. Most of the upscale house was still intact, but heavily burned in the front



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