Duane Youd has been identified as the Utah man who flew a small plane into his own home. According to authorities, Youd crashed the plane into the house in the wee hours of the morning on Monday. It was also noted that the wild incident occurred just hours after Youd had been arrested for assaulting his wife.
Youd died in the crash.
His wife and a child were in the home at the time he flew the plane into the front of the two-story building, but they were able to get out and survive. It is believed that Youd took the plane from his employer, according to ABC-13. Youd, who was an experienced pilot, was employed by Guardian Flight Alaska according to his Facebook account.
The 47-year-old studied Professional Aeronautical Science at Utah Valley University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in 2008.
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Youd’s mugshot from earlier in the day has also been released.
https://twitter.com/JimSpiewak/status/1029077625455566848
From the ABC-13 report:
Youd was booked into jail on suspicion of domestic violence and then bailed out, Cannon said. Youd 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.
Prior to the crash, Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon said witnesses called the police after seeing the couple argue. The argument took place at American Fork Canyon, and both had reportedly been drinking. Police previously responded to a domestic violence incident earlier this year which resulted in a disorderly conduct charge. Youd was sentenced to six months of marriage and family counseling sessions as part of a plea deal.
