Suzanne Hazelton, passenger in plane that crashed into Creve Coeur Lake, dies

Suzanne Hazelton, 69, of Town & Country, passed away at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 according to a SSM DePaul Health Center spokesperson.

Hazelton was one of two people aboard a Piper PA-28 Cherokee fixed-wing, single engine commuter plane registered to 78-year-old Russell C. Hazelton of Factoryville, Pa., that crashed into Creve Coeur Lake on Oct. 24. It is believed that the plane may have been attempting to make an emergency landing on a grassy strip next to the lake, when it crashed on the edge of the lake, rolled onto its back and became partially submerged.

A witness told Maryland Heights Police that she saw the plane overhead and “heard the engine sputtering.”

Pattonville Fire Protection District received the first call about 8:45 p.m. At that time the number of passengers aboard the plane was unknown. The plane is capable of carrying four people; however, at 10:11 p.m. the Federal Aviation Admission confirmed that there were only two people on board at the time of the crash.

Shortly after arriving on the scene, first responders were able to free two people from the plane and rush them to SSM DePaul Health Center. The pilot, Russel C. Hazelton, passed away that night. Suzanne remained in critical condition.

According to Maj. Bill Carson, of the Maryland Heights police department, the plane was en route from Delaware, Pa. to Creve Coeur Airport and had stopped in Dayton, Ohio.

The Hazeltons have a home on Fairfield Lake Drive in  Town & Country. Russell Hazelton is a retired TWA pilot. Suzanne Hazelton is a retired teacher. At this time, funeral arrangements are not known.