Wednesday, June 24, 2015

2 seriously injured after crash of a Cessna 206, owned by Red Eagle Aviation, at the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area in Montana


 
2 people were flown to KRMC after the incident (MTN News photo)
 
2 people were flown to KRMC after the incident (MTN News photo)
 
KALISPELL, MONTANA

Three people survived a Tuesday plane crash in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. 

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Area is a Congressionally designated wilderness area located in western Montana in the United States.


Officials say the airplane was taking off the runway at Schafer Meadows Airstrip when the crash happened at the end of the runway. 

A single-engine Cessna 206, owned by Red Eagle Aviation, was set to take off Tuesday morning with Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry saying that before the plane had a chance to get off the ground, it crashed on the airstrip. 

"At this time it was a private transportation, they were rafters going into the Schafer area. At approximately 12:05 the Two Bear Air went to Schafer Airstrip to pick up the passengers to take them to the Kalispell hospital," U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Ema Braunberger said.

Officials say a private airplane attempted to take off around 11 a.m., but instead crashed at the end of the runway. 

Two of the three people inside were transported to the Kalispell Regional Medical Center and the third was okay. 

"The crash is under investigation and will be under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. I anticipate they'll send some crews and should be on site either later today or tomorrow," Curry said on Tuesday.

He added that the two injured adults were flown by Two Bear Helicopter and were not critically injured in the incident.