1 dead in small airplane crash at WA's Paine Field
1 dead after small plane crashes at Paine Field, catches fire
One person was killed in a small plane crash after taking off from Paine Field in Everett Thursday afternoon, and the FAA and NTSB are now investigating the cause of the crash.
EVERETT, Wash. - One person was killed in a small airplane crash at Paine Field in Everett Thursday afternoon.
What we know:
Officials said a small aircraft went down in a heavily wooded area west of the main runway at 2:48 p.m.
Emergency crews located the crashed plane about 750 feet from the runway, engulfed in flames. The fire was quickly extinguished by Paine Field Fire Department personnel.
It was initially reported that multiple people were injured in the crash, however Paine Field officials later stated one person had died, the sole occupant of the plane.
The main runway was closed for approximately one hour after the crash. Three flights departing from Paine Field were delayed, and one arriving flight was diverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, according to FlightAware.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a Glasair plane crashed shortly after takeoff. Glasair is an aircraft manufacturer that makes small two-seat and four-seat airplanes.
What they're saying:
"On arrival there was a small fire that had engulfed the aircraft. It is a small general aviation aircraft. It’s manufactured by Glasair. We are sad to report that we do have one occupant on board that is deceased," said Kristin Banfield, Paine Airport Public Information Officer.
Banfield said there are two runways, one larger and one smaller. She said the pilot involved in Thursday's crash was taking off on the larger, main runway.
"All we know at this time was that he was cleared for takeoff and he was making that maneuver at the time," Banfield said.
Rolfe Bergstrom works near Paine Field. He did not see the crash but remembers another significant incident involving a plane several years ago that knocked out power to the area.
"It hit a power line or power pole, I don’t remember which, there was like a bit of a fireball," said Bergstrom. "They fly overhead and you get some real surprises."
Banfield says it’s been a few years since a crash like this has happened at the airfield.
"As far as significant injury or fatality crashes, it’s been a good six to eight years since we’ve had an incident like that at Paine Field," said Banfield.
What's next:
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now investigating the cause of the crash.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office will later identify and release the cause of death of the person killed in the plane crash.
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The Source: Information in this story came from Paine Field, FlightAware and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.