Four Onboard Survive Landing Plane Crash in Kalispell City

The four people aboard a small plane that crashed at the Kalispell City Airport on Monday afternoon walked away from the fiery wreck with only minor injuries among them. The plane caught fire when the pilot attempted to land on the runway just after 2 p.m., Aug. 11, according to Kalispell Fire Department Chief Jay Hagen.

The burning craft careened down the runway and crashed into a parked plane which also burst into flames. “It was described to me as like a Frisbee,” said Hagen as he mimicked the plane’s trajectory with his hand.

Only two people sustained injuries as a result of the crash, which Hagen described as very minor. Both received treatment on-scene. The second plane was empty.

Kalispell, Smith Valley, Whitefish and Evergreen fire departments used foam to extinguish the fire as it spread from the two aircraft to a nearby patch of grass, quelling the flames within the hour. Kalispell Police Department and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the call.

Investigation of the incident, including the conditions that led to the faulty landing, will now be turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Local officials planned to cordon off the crash site, including part of a taxi runway, to preserve evidence for that investigation. Hagen was unable to comment on how those efforts may affect airport operations in the coming days.