This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Southern Utah University officials on Tuesday identified the two pilots killed in a plane crash near Cedar City as Alan Carver and Nathan Stoddard, both flight instructors in the school's Upper Limit Aviation training program.

Carver, 50, and Stoddard, 24, went down aboard a Cessna 152 aircraft at 1:01 p.m. Monday in Lake Quichapa, a dry lake, about six miles south west of Cedar City, on what officials described as a routine training flight. Both men were found dead at the scene.

The National Transportation Safety Board, with assistance from Upper Limit Aviation, is investigating the crash.

Carver was a senior flight instructor, having retired as a lieutenant colonel and combat flier from the Air Force in 2012. He joined the SUU program July 2013. He is survived by a wife and three children.

"I cannot adequately express the depth of sorrow I feel for this tragic loss," stated Carl Templin, dean of SUU's School of Business and aviation program. "I am deeply saddened by the loss of my colleagues and friends. My heart goes out to their families."

Stoddard, who began working for the SUU flight program just last Friday as a junior flight instructor, had recently moved to Cedar City from Salt Lake City, where he worked as a transportation agent for Keystone Aviation.

"I have flown with Nathan before and he was a fine pilot," said Neil Donahue, SUU assistant chief flight instructor, of his new colleague. "I was truly looking forward to working with him, he was going to be great teacher."

SUU President Scott L Wyatt called the crash and its aftermath "an incredibly sad time.

"No one is ever prepared for a tragedy like this. Many of our pilots have served our country and we appreciate the service they gave to us. We mourn with the pilots' families, loved ones, the SUU community and City after such a loss," he said.

Twitter: @remims