A fiery midair collision near Fort Morgan Municipal Airport in Colorado left one person dead and three others injured Sunday morning, sending shockwaves through the small community. Witnesses described a horrifying scene as two small planes clipped wings, spiraled out of control, and exploded into flames.
The crash happened around 10:40 a.m. when a Cessna 172, on its final approach to the runway, was struck by an Extra EA-300 aerobatic plane.
“It was like something out of a movie,” said local resident Kevin Morales, who watched the disaster unfold from his backyard. “One moment they were gliding in, the next there was this loud crack, and then both planes just dropped.”
Each plane carried two people. The Cessna’s occupants miraculously walked away with minor injuries and were treated at the scene. But the EA-300 wasn’t so lucky. One passenger was rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, while the other was pronounced dead at the crash site by the Morgan County Coroner’s Office.
As flames engulfed the wreckage, bystanders raced toward danger. Several residents grabbed garden hoses, buckets, and even fire extinguishers, trying desperately to contain the blaze before firefighters arrived. “I couldn’t just stand there and watch,” said Sarah Lopez, one of the neighbors who helped. “I thought there might be people trapped inside.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the two planes collided while approaching the runway. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, which is expected to focus on flight paths, radio communications, and possible visibility issues. Officials say Fort Morgan Municipal Airport will remain closed until investigators clear the wreckage and piece together what went wrong.
The crash occurred the same weekend as a collegiate aerobatics event hosted nearby by Metropolitan State University of Denver, but officials stressed there’s no connection to the collision. Both aircraft involved—the Cessna 172 and the Extra EA-300—are popular among private pilots and flight schools, raising fresh questions about airspace safety and coordination around smaller regional airports.
“This is a devastating loss,” the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
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