Chase Day Obituary, PROVO, Utah — Chase Day, 25, has died following a small airplane crash in Utah Lake near Utah Lake State Park on August 7, 2026. His family described his death as unexpected and heartbreaking, saying he had his whole life ahead of him.
According to information shared by family and friends, Day had recently earned his private pilot’s license and was pursuing a larger dream of becoming a commercial pilot. On the afternoon of August 7, a Cessna 172S departed from Provo Airport with a female pilot and Day aboard as a passenger. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft went down in Utah Lake.
The female pilot survived the crash with non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment. The Utah County Sheriff’s Office said the pilot was able to bring the aircraft into shallower water before it went down, a decision that directly aided the rescue effort. Day did not survive the crash.
Those who knew Day remembered him as hard-working, kind, sensitive and intelligent, with a quick wit that often made those around him laugh. His family also remembered how much he enjoyed being an uncle, watching Star Wars and making sure everyone followed the rules during family board games.
Day’s mother, Sonia Bunker Day, expressed the depth of the family’s grief in a message shared following his death. “Our hearts are shattered,” she wrote, asking others to pray for the family as they face life without Chase.
Family friends have also shared tributes describing Day as an incredible person and an aspiring pilot who was passionate about aviation. A GoFundMe organized by Ryan Bunker was established to support the family, including assistance with funeral expenses and costs associated with Day’s flight training and student loans.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the incident, and officials have not yet released a confirmed cause of the crash. Further details are expected as the investigation continues.
Chase Day’s death leaves his parents, Mike and Sonia, his brothers, extended family and friends grieving a young man remembered for his kindness, humor, love of family and passion for flying. As those who knew him mourn his loss, they are asking for prayers and support for his family during this difficult time. May Chase Day be remembered for the life he lived, the people he loved and the dreams he was working to achieve.
