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Chandler’s mother says goodbye to son and husband after the Falcon Field crash

by November 7, 2024

The mother of a 12-year-old boy who died in a plane crash on November 5 bid a warm farewell to her son and said her family was “completely devastated”.

Tanya Kimball also said goodbye to her husband Drew Kimball, 44, in an Instagram post.

The father and son were among five people killed when a corporate jet crashed into a vehicle after an aborted takeoff at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa.

“Our hearts are unbearably heavy as we share the deaths of Drew and Grahm,” she wrote. “We stand there knowing without a doubt that families last forever.”

She also asked people to pray for all affected families.

On November 6, police identified the other victims as Spencer Lindahl, 43, and Rustin Randall, 48, who were aboard the plane. The driver of the vehicle hit by the plane also died, but police did not release the driver’s name.

A teenage relative of the victims, who was also aboard the plane, remained hospitalized the next afternoon with burn injuries, police said.

The multimillion-dollar jet crashed around 4:45 p.m. Witnesses told police the plane never left the ground. It plowed through a field and the end of a runway, struck a fence, slid onto Greenfield Road where it struck the vehicle and stopped in an orchard on the other side, where it burst into flames.

Friends of the Lindahl and Randall families also took to social media to express their sadness.

“We lost two remarkable men last night,” Mesa dentist Nate Porter wrote in a Facebook post. “They were like brothers and we raised our families together. I am forever grateful for the time we spent together.”

Porter posted a series of photos – Disneyland, the beach, lakes, restaurants, gatherings – all showing a smiling group of friends.

Porter could not be reached for comment.

A regional safety manager for a construction company in Mesa posted on Porter’s page that she tried to help after the crash.

“I am so sorry for your loss. I was one of the first to stop and try to help,” wrote Michelle Jones. “I sat with the young man who survived the plane crash until emergency services arrived on scene. My prayers are with you all!”

The deaths spread across the East Valley, where some of the victims lived and worshiped.

In an email to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chandler, community leaders also called for “earnest prayers.”

Social workers and school counselors were on scene Nov. 6 at Carlson Elementary School in Chandler, where Grahm Kimball was in sixth grade.

Chandler Unified School District spokeswoman Stephanie Ingersoll said the crisis response team would also be available the next day.

“As a community, we are heartbroken and mourn his death,” Ingersoll said in a statement.

The Kimball family was still reeling from the sudden death of their eldest son, Braden, less than a year ago.

Drew Kimball gave a keynote speech with pictures of his son at the Hope Mental Health Foundation fundraiser on October 25th. He talked about the importance of taking time to “check in” with family and friends.

The foundation posted a message on Facebook.

“We are heartbroken to hear the news of the tragic loss of our friend Drew, his son Grahm and his friends last night,” the foundation wrote. “We are grateful to have heard his speech at our gala…We will honor his message and legacy at Hope.”

Tanya Kimball wrote on Instagram that her family finds comfort in knowing that her husband and sons had “a glorious reunion…on the other side.”

She captioned a picture of Grahm and Drew with the message: “Grahm Bentley Kimball & Drew Steven Kimball reunited with Braden on November 5, 2024.”

Robert Anglen is an investigative reporter for The Republic. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @robertanglen.

Elena Santa Cruz is a criminal justice reporter for The Republic. Reach them at [email protected]. Follow her on X @ecsantacruz3.

Jose R. Gonzalez is a breaking news reporter at The Republic. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on X, @jrgzztx.

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