Plane Crash Victims Were Student, Professor

Authorities say the two Butte men who died in a single-engine plane crash were a Montana State University student and a Montana Tech professor.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus confirmed they were the only people aboard the Piper PA-38 Tomahawk when it crashed Monday morning west of Butte.

Butte-Silver Bow Coroner Lee LeBreche identified the victims as 61-year-old Richard Johnson and student Justin Robbe.

The Montana Tech directory lists Johnson as an assistant professor in the school's general engineering department. Johnson also owned Coyote LLC, a Butte aircraft carter and rental company.

Robbe was an aviation student and attended Montana State University. Different reports put his age at either 19 or 20.

LeBreche did not immediately return a call to clarify the discrepancy.

Associated Press