Small Plane Crashes Into Parked Aircraft at Montana Airport, Sparks Large Fire

Small Plane Crashes Into Parked Aircraft at Montana Airport, Sparks Large Fire; No Serious Injuries Reported

Kalispell, Montana — August 12, 2025:

A small single-engine plane attempting to land at Kalispell City Airport crashed into multiple parked aircraft on Monday afternoon, sparking a large fire that quickly spread before firefighters brought it under control. Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported among the four people aboard the aircraft.

According to Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Socata TBM 700 turboprop, built in 2011 and owned by Meter Sky LLC of Pullman, Washington, was landing at around 2 p.m. when the pilot lost control. The plane veered off the runway and struck several stationary aircraft parked nearby. The collision ignited fires on multiple planes, which then spread to the surrounding grassy area adjacent to the runway.

Kalispell Fire Chief Jay Hagen said witnesses saw the plane crash-land near the end of the runway before it careened into another parked aircraft. After the plane came to a stop, all four passengers managed to exit the plane on their own. Two of them suffered minor injuries and were treated at the airport; no one was seriously hurt.

“It sounded like if you were to stick your head in a bass drum and somebody smacked it as hard as they could.”
— Ron Danielson, manager of a nearby inn

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now involved in investigating the cause of the accident, working alongside the FAA. Preliminary findings suggest the pilot lost control during the landing approach, but a full investigation is underway to determine all contributing factors.

Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, who previously investigated crashes for both the FAA and NTSB, noted that collisions involving planes crashing into parked aircraft happen a few times a year within general aviation, highlighting the importance of continued safety vigilance.

This incident follows a similar high-profile crash in February, when a Learjet owned by Motley Crue singer Vince Neil veered off a runway in Scottsdale, Arizona, crashing into a parked Gulfstream and resulting in one fatality. That crash is still under investigation, with the NTSB noting possible landing gear damage as a factor.

Kalispell City Airport is a small, city-owned airport just south of Kalispell, a city with a population of about 30,000 in northwest Montana. Airport operations have since resumed with additional safety precautions as investigators continue their work.