A father-son duo, Drew Kimball and Grahm Kimball, were identified as two of the four victims who died in a tragic Arizona plane crash on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Drew Kimball (44) was the father of Braden Kimball, who took his own life in December 2023.
The tragedy last year turned Drew Kimball into a mental health advocate. Last month, he was a keynote speaker at a non-profit, HOPE Mental Foundation, highlighting the importance of checking in on children and loved ones.
According to multiple reports on Tuesday evening, a six-passenger jet carrying five people plowed through a field at the end of a Falcon Field Airport runway before colliding with a car and crashing into an orchard, AZ Central reported.
Four of the five passengers onboard were reportedly killed at the scene. The victims were identified as Grahm Kimball (12), his father Drew Kimball (44), Spencer Lindahl (43), and Rustin Randall ( 48).
The fifth passenger on the plane, identified as a teen, was reportedly transported to the hospital with burns. The unidentified driver of the car involved in the collision was also killed in the crash.
Mother and wife of Grahm and Drew Kimball pays tribute in the wake of the loss
Following the incident, the devastated wife and mother of Drew Kimball and Grahm paid tribute to her late son and husband in a post on social media. According to Daily Mail, Tanya Kimball said:
"Our hearts are excruciatingly heavy as we share the passing of Drew and Graham in a tragic plane accident yesterday.”
Tanya Kimball said she finds comfort in knowing that her husband and child have reunited with her other late son, Braden Kimball, who died last year. She said:
“We are completely devastated but find solace in knowing there was a glorious reunion with Braden on the other side. We stand and know, without a doubt, that families are forever.”
A GoFundMe campaign initiated last year revealed Braden Kimball died after taking his own life on December 22, 2023. The fundraiser, created by a family member, described Braden Kimball as an innately kind person and added:
“Braden returned peacefully to our loving Heavenly Father on Friday, December 22nd. We can’t thank you enough for all your love and prayers and donations. If you’re in a place where you can help donate, any amount helps!”
At the time, the fundraiser said Braden was survived by his mom, dad, and three siblings, including Grahm Kimball.
Meanwhile, Tanya Kimball’s post paying tribute to her late husband and son was shared by family member Becky Kimball, who wrote:
“My heart is breaking. Literally. Please pray for Tanya, Hallie and Jack.”
HOPE Mental Foundation also paid tribute to the father and son. In a Facebook post, they said:
"We are heartbroken to hear the news of the tragic loss of our friend, Drew, his son Grahm and his friends last night. We are grateful to have heard his speech at our gala where 200 guests heard his message about the importance of checking in with our children and loved ones. We will honor his message and legacy at Hope."
A community member, Jodi Adams, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to provide financial assistance to Graham and Drew Kimball’s families. As of this writing, the fundraiser has raised over $26,000.