MUKILTEO—Tom Prenzlow, a prominent aerospace executive and community servant, perished in a helicopter crash on June 25, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of business growth, team empowerment, and civic contributions, alongside his involvement in property development discussions right here in Mukilteo.
“It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of former owner of Systima Technologies, Tom Prenzlow, who tragically lost his life in a helicopter accident on June 25, 2025,” Karman Space & Defense wrote in a press release on July 1, 2025, announcing Prenzlow’s passing.
Prenzlow was described as a larger-than-life personality whose unwavering drive molded and shaped Systima, leading it from a team of fewer than 10 to over 200 employees before it became part of Karman. In people, he valued talent, potential, and drive, surrounding himself with a smart, loyal, and relentless team to whom he handed immense responsibilities.
Serious about community service, Prenzlow led fundraisers and food drives for the Seattle Union Gospel Mission, spent evenings helping those in need, and offered employment opportunities. He founded the Gary Ketner Memorial Scholarship for first-generation students in STEM and trades.
“Tom’s legacy can’t be summed up in one word, but one that stands out is Opportunity,” Karman Space & Defense announced concluded. “For he gave so much of it to so many. Tom was so full of light, and such a character, that it’s hard to think of him and not smile just a little. He was a great man. Please keep Tom’s family and loved ones in your thoughts during this difficult time. Farewell, God Speed, and rest in peace Tom Prenzlow.”
The crash details emerged from reports by ABC Denver7 News and the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 25, 2025, at approximately 8:12 p.m., the Rio Blanco County Communication Center received a report of a missing helicopter that had departed from Meeker Airport earlier that morning. Rio Blanco County is a rural county in northwestern Colorado.
The Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office initiated a cellphone trace and activated search and rescue, coordinating aerial efforts with Classic Air Medical based on tracking and cell data. Searches continued for hours without success and were suspended at nightfall for safety reasons.
The search resumed at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 26, with support from Coulter Aviation, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, Classic Air Medical, and family members hiking potential paths. Hikers reported “something worth looking at” northeast of Meeker, and a Coulter Aviation pilot confirmed the crash site around 6:50 a.m. that morning.
The sheriff’s office and Meeker Fire & Rescue responded, identifying the sole occupant as Prenzlow, 59, of Meeker, piloting a privately owned MD500 helicopter.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were notified to investigate, with the FAA stating that the crash occurred around 11:10 p.m. on June 25 near Meeker Coulter Field Airport.
Prenzlow had ties to Mukilteo through his ownership of the Harbour Pointe Tech Center at 6500 Harbour Heights Parkway. As majority owner of HPTC Property, LLC, he purchased the 30-acre site, that includes a 335,000-square-foot building, for $46.75 million in September 2020. Systima Technologies, which he formerly owned and retained equity in after its 2021 acquisition by Karman Space & Defense, was a tenant, though much of the space was vacant following Boeing’s departure.
In 2024, the property was central to a rezoning proposal from Business Park (designated as “Industrial” in the Comprehensive Plan) to Multifamily Residential-High Density to enable housing.
Tri Pointe Homes applied in April 2024 for a 275-unit project, reduced to 222 and then 200 units of houses and townhomes. The Mukilteo Planning Commission, after an August 2024 meeting with nearly 100 residents, recommended 13 units per acre with a 180-unit cap.
Public opposition focused on traffic, infrastructure, and community character, with no residents speaking in favor at public hearings.
Prenzlow addressed the Mukilteo City Council on October 7, 2024, stating, “I just want everyone to know that Harbour Heights is a great building, but the Tech Center is not sustainable the way it is going right now. With the current work-from-home atmosphere… the chance of keeping Harbour Heights full is very slim.”
He outlined options: developing 80 units on seven acres if rezoned denied, or 200 units if approved.
The council voted 6-0-1 to deny the rezone, directing staff to maintain the property to be zoned as a Business Park.
Author: Mario Lotmore
One Response
Thank you for your comprehenisve report. I am saddened by this news and wish his loved ones and friends the very best and my sincere condolences.