Lake Forest Woman Dies In Wisconsin Plane Crash

LAKE FOREST, IL — A college senior and licensed flight instructor from Lake Forest died after a plane crash last month in Wisconsin.

Kylie Murray, 21, a 2018 Lake Forest High School graduate, was working for Cub Air flight school at Hartford Municipal Airport at the time of the fatal crash, authorities said.

The male pilot who was flying the small propeller plane at the time of the crash survived, although he appeared to be in shock. Rescuers had to extricate Murray from the plane before rushing her by helicopter to a local hospital, where she later died, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Murray was a senior at Auburn University in Alabama, where she was studying aviation management. Last week, the university flew a memorial flag on campus in her memory, later placing a memorial certificate in the student center.

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, Murray was issued a flight instructor license in July 2020 and received a commercial pilot license for single -engine land and sea planes on June 10.

"Kylie’s truest love was being outdoors, and flying enabled her to express that passion," according to an obituary from her family. "From the time she was a baby, she gravitated towards airplanes and flight, much like her brother and father, soloing for the first time in 2017."

Steve Krog, owner of Cub Air and Murray's flight instructor last year, told Patch every student who came into contact with Murray loved flying with her.

"Kylie Murray was a breath of fresh air, loved being at the airport, flying airplanes, and teaching others to fly," Krog said. "I believe her heart and soul showed through whenever she was flying an airplane. She flew and taught with a sincere passion for and with a love of flight."

Services were held last week. Murray's family asked that donations in her name be made to Women in Aviation International.

Murray also was a lifeguard and diving coach at the Lake Forest Country Club, served as a youth deacon at First Presbyterian Church, taught snowboarding at Steamboat Ski Resort in Colorado, according to the obituary.

"In Kylie’s eyes, anyone was capable of anything and she would make sure you felt encouraged and loved every step of the way," it said. "She always gave a reminder not to take yourself too seriously and enjoy every minute of every day."