Mother who lost daughters in Mogollon Rim plane crash speaks

It has been a year since a small plane crashed near Payson, killing a Scottsdale family of four.

Two sisters, ages 14-year-old Victoria and 12-year-old Skylar, died in the crash. So did the pilot, 44-year-old Eric Falbe, who was the two girls' dad, and the girls' stepmother, 31-year-old Carrie.

For the biological mother of those two girls, it has been a painful, agonizing year that was filled with sorrow, what if's, and the support of complete strangers, whose heart's broke right along with hers.

Cynthia Larmore, mother of the two girls, is now speaking out about what followed the fatal crash.

I would like to thank the community for all the outpouring of love. Its been immensely touching and helpful to know that people still care, even though its been a whole year later," said Cynthia, who said everyday, she feels the presence of her two daughters.

The two girls were inseparable - in life and death.

"They went together, they died together, they went straight to heaven together," said Cynthia. "That was comforting because they were always together."

Cynthia could almost see it coming.

"Every single time he flew, I was a nervous wreck," said Cynthia. "It was my worst fear that it would happen to my children."

After their divorce in 2007, Cynthia tried to prevent Eric from flying with her children.

"I never felt comfortable with it," said Cynthia.

A court, however, would never agree to it.

"So there was nothing that I could do," said Cynthia.

Accidents happen, but this one never should have.

The fateful date was January 2, 2017. The four planned to fly that morning to Telluride, Colo. for their annual ski trip.

At 8:35 a.m., Skylar sent Cynthia a text.

"We're at the airport we'll probably leave around 9," said Cynthia, recounting the text. "I replied, 'I love you both. Be safe. call me when you land.'"

The messages are the last words Cynthia exchanged with her daughters.

A few minutes later, Skylar posted a photo with the caption "In The Plane", via her Snapchat.

The plane took off at 9:12 a.m., and moments later, Victoria sent a haunting Snapchat, consisting of a photo taken from the place that shows overcast sky, and the word "Bye" scribbled, with a heart.

The weather ahead was nasty, and the plane would fly into snow. It is not known if Eric got a weather briefing, but it is known that he did not file a flight plan.

"He should never have flown that day," said Cynthia.

In 25 minutes, they would all be gone.

A year after the fatal crash, the Mogollon Rim looked gentle and peaceful, but on that overcast, snowy, terrible day, the Rim was a monster lurking in the distance.

Eric, a Valley attorney, was a recreational pilot who was only trained to fly visually, which means he is proficient in flying when skies are clear, and he could see the ground. In bad weather and poor visibility, however, he lacked the instrument training necessary to handle those conditions.

"He was negligent and he shouldn't have been taking off that day, and then he was negligent by not turning the plane around," said Cynthia.

The plane reached an altitude of nearly 8,000 feet, but clouds were hanging low. The plane descended to 1,300 within a minute, likely so Eric could see the ground. It put him on a deadly collision course with the Mogollon Rim.

At 12:30 p.m. that day, Cynthia was jarred by a sudden unsettling feeling.

"I looked at my watch, and I was like my children are overdue from calling me, and that's when I started really freaking out," Cynthia recounted. She said the girls always called when they landed.

"I started texting them, calling them, emailing and texting, waiting for a response, and I didn't get one," said Cynthia.

As the daylight faded, still no word.

"It was getting dark, and I was just like, 'oh my gosh, something happened to them,'" said Cynthia. "I cant reach them. It's getting dark. They should be off of the mountain right now."

As the hours passed, Cynthia knew her girls were on that plane. She had proof.

"We were calling, the Telluride Police were calling Telluride Airport, which was closed," Cynthia recounted. "We were up all night just praying. I knew. I knew they had crashed. I didn't know where. I was hoping they were alive, but I figured they weren't. I mean, it's a tiny plane."

At first light the next day, rescuers spotted the wreckage, along with the four bodies.

When police came to the door to inform Cynthia that her girls were gone, Cynthia's mind flashed to the one person who could understand her grief.

"Karen was the first person that I thought of," said Cynthia. "It was my worst fear. It happened to her, and then it happened to me."

The "Karen" Cynthia referred to is Karen Perry. The Valley woman lost her three children in a Thanksgiving eve plane crash in the Superstition Mountains, seven years ago, and in almost the exact circumstances.

Karen's ex-husband flew her kids on a trip, and the plane crashed, killing all six onboard. Bound by a grief only they share, Karen reached out to Cynthia.

"She has just overcome so much adversity and has persevered and is truly an inspiration for me and helping me get through this past year," said Cynthia. "I wake up every morning, thinking of my children and thinking about her and how she has moved forward with her life and found a purpose."

Karen also gave Cynthia some good advice.

"Your children's presence is with you always, no mater where you are," Cynthia recounted said, recounting the advice Karen gave her. "Wherever I go, I have memories of them."

Cynthia has the pictures, and the many milestones they shared together. From games, vacations, silly moments, family times, to their last Christmas together, a week before the crash.

"I do have the memories, and the pictures keep me going," said Cynthia.

Every now and then, Cynthia gets a visit.

"I love it when the girls come to me in my dreams," said Cynthia. "We're OK, Mom. They've talked to me sometimes. They wave and blow kisses. When that happens, when I get to see them in my dreams, I just...thank you lord."

Cynthia still reaches out to them.

"I'm not sure if you get text messages in heaven, and I still call their phones."

Cynthia said her faith sustains her.

"I would like to praise God for giving me the faith to get up and get going, everyday, because this is my new normal. I'll see the girls when his will is done when it's time to go. That provides me a lot of comfort knowing that," said Cynthia.

Cynthia wanted to not only thank the community, but also the rescuers who found the wreckage and her daughters, The Cicero Prep community, and her friends and family, who've helped through this awful year.

The final NTSB report on the accident is expected soon.