Aircraft collides with another one on the runway during landing at Montana airport, igniting flames
A small plane crash occurred at the Kalispell City Airport in Montana on Monday afternoon. The incident involved a Socata TBM 700 turboprop, a single-engine aircraft carrying four people.
According to reports, the plane, owned by Meter Sky LLC of Pullman, Washington, crashed during landing around 2 p.m. Witnesses reported that the plane crash-landed at the end of the runway and collided with another aircraft, causing fires. Fortunately, all four passengers were able to exit the plane on their own, although two sustained slight injuries and were treated at the airport.
The fire spread to a grassy area but was eventually extinguished. The plane struck several parked aircraft, causing damage. The Kalispell City Airport is a city-owned airport south of Kalispell, Montana, with a population of approximately 30,000 people.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash, but preliminary reports suggest that prior damage to the landing gear may have been a factor. Incidents where small planes crash into parked aircraft are not uncommon, and common causes include pilot error, loss of control on the ground, mechanical failure, and limited situational awareness due to distractions or communication failures.
Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti commented that such incidents happen a few times a year in general aviation. Specific contributing factors may involve congested ramp areas, poor visibility, limited pilot experience, or failure to follow air traffic control instructions.
Recent examples of small planes crashing into parked aircraft include the incident on August 12, 2025, at a Montana airport, which ignited a runway fire. The specific cause was not detailed in the available report, but such accidents typically result from ground handling or control problems during taxi or takeoff phases.
Incidents like the Montana airport crash reflect the risks associated with small planes crashing into parked aircraft. Comprehensive aggregated statistics specifically categorizing these incidents remain limited in the search results but are typically tracked by aviation safety authorities such as the NTSB.
It is worth noting that midair collisions involving different types of aircraft, such as the January 2025 fatal midair collision over Washington involving an Army helicopter and a passenger plane, highlight issues in air traffic communication and frequency separation. However, this example is not directly about small planes crashing into parked planes but shows risks related to communication breakdowns and field of vision limitations.
The NTSB's investigation into the crash involving Motley Crue singer Vince Neil's Learjet in February 2023 also highlighted the risks associated with small planes crashing into parked aircraft. In that incident, a Learjet veered off a runway in Scottsdale, Arizona, and crashed into a parked Gulfstream, killing one person.
In conclusion, pilot error during ground operations and communication issues are common causes of small planes crashing into parked aircraft. Aviation safety authorities such as the NTSB continue to investigate these incidents to improve safety in the aviation industry.
- Reports of a small plane crash at the Kalispell City Airport in Montana, involving a Socata TBM 700 turboprop, have raised concerns about aviation safety.
- The NTSB is investigating the cause of the crash, with preliminary reports suggesting that prior damage to the landing gear may have been a factor.
- Incidents where small planes crash into parked aircraft are not uncommon, and common causes include pilot error, mechanical failure, and limited situational awareness.
- Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti commented that incidents like the Montana airport crash happen a few times a year in general aviation, with factors such as congested ramp areas and poor visibility often playing a role.
- The NTSB's investigation into the crash involving Motley Crue singer Vince Neil's Learjet in February 2023 also highlighted the risks associated with small planes crashing into parked aircraft, as a Learjet veered off a runway in Scottsdale, Arizona, and crashed into a parked Gulfstream.
- According to Guzzetti, accidents like these can have a significant impact on the aviation industry, and comprehensive aggregated statistics specifically categorizing these incidents are typically tracked by aviation safety authorities.
- The incident at the Kalispell City Airport also serves as a reminder of the importance of safe ground operations and effective communication in the aviation industry, which are crucial in preventing accidents and ensuring the safety of all passengers and aircraft.
