Midair Plane Collision at Colorado Airport Results in Fatality and Injuries

Two small aircraft collided while attempting to land at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport, resulting in one death and three injuries.

The incident involved a Cessna 172 and an Extra EA-300, each carrying two occupants. The collision occurred as both pilots tried to land simultaneously, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The occupant of the Extra EA-300 was pronounced dead at the scene. A survivor from that aircraft was transported to a nearby hospital, while those aboard the Cessna sustained minor injuries and were treated on site.

The crash caused one aircraft to catch fire, with firefighters on the scene battling the flames. Both planes were left severely damaged, with one reduced to debris and charred remains, and the other missing its tail, wing, and a tire, as captured in aerial footage.

Eyewitnesses and bystanders hurried to the scene to assist, some attempting to extinguish the flames, with authorities expressing condolences to the victim’s family. The sheriff’s office noted that some bystanders jumped into action to help before emergency crews arrived.

Both aircraft sustained extensive damage, with aerial footage showing one nearly destroyed and the other heavily burned. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, scheduled to begin the following day.

It was confirmed that neither plane was involved in a recent aerobatics event hosted at the airport. The collision occurred amid a weekend where a collegiate aerobatics team from Metropolitan State University of Denver was competing nearby, though the school assured there was no connection between the incident and their activities.

The university expressed sympathy and support for the victims’ families, emphasizing that the crash was an unforeseen tragedy.