A single-engine plane carrying four people crashed while landing at Kalispell City Airport on Monday afternoon, erupting into a massive fireball and sending thick black smoke over the city. Two passengers suffered minor injuries.
Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio said the crash occurred around 2 p.m. when the pilot lost control during landing.
The aircraft slammed into the runway, struck several parked planes, and ignited multiple fires that spread to a grassy area before being contained.
WATCH: Scott Carpenter sent us this video of the plane crash at the Kalispell City Airport. NBC Montana has a reporter on scene. LATEST: https://t.co/ydTXF8BavJ pic.twitter.com/8u66O2n1RG
— NBC Montana (@NBCMontana) August 11, 2025
Eyewitness Accounts
Witnesses reported seeing the plane crash-land at the end of the runway and collide with another aircraft. Kalispell Fire Chief Jay Hagen said the passengers managed to exit the plane on their own before it was fully engulfed.
“No one was on the second aircraft that was hit,” Hagen confirmed. Two injured passengers were treated at the airport for minor wounds.
Smoke Over Downtown
Photos shared by local artist Ben Garrison showed towering black smoke clouds over the airfield and visible from downtown Kalispell. Ron Danielson, who manages a nearby inn, said he both heard and saw the impact before smoke filled the sky.
FAA Investigation Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. The Kalispell City Airport, located just south of the city of 30,000, is known as a gateway to Glacier National Park in northwest Montana.
