Midair collision near Colorado airport kills one, injures three

Two small aircraft clipped each other while attempting to land at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport; one person died at the scene and three others were injured, authorities said.

A midair collision between two small airplanes during landing Sunday morning outside Fort Morgan Municipal Airport left one person dead and three others injured, the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration said. Emergency personnel responded after receiving a report of a plane crash at about 10:45 a.m., and found both aircraft down in fields just beyond the runway, officials said.

Preliminary information from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office and the FAA indicates a Cessna 172 was on final approach when it was struck by a second aircraft, an Extra EA-300, as both aircraft were attempting to land at the same time. Witnesses told investigators they saw the two planes clip each other in the air before both plunged to the ground and caught fire, authorities said.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office said one occupant of the Extra EA-300 died at the scene. The other person aboard that aircraft survived and was transported to a nearby hospital; the office did not immediately release that person’s condition. Both occupants of the Cessna 172 sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. In total, three people were injured in the crash.

Responders and bystanders reportedly attempted to extinguish fires at the two crash sites as plumes of smoke rose from the wreckage. The sheriff’s office said one of the aircraft burst into flames upon impact; it did not specify which airplane was the primary source of the larger fire. Video and photographs from the scene show charred wreckage and emergency crews working near damaged aircraft components.

The FAA confirmed the aircraft types and said it was investigating the incident. Local law enforcement officers secured the scene while emergency medical personnel provided care to survivors. The identity of the deceased and the injured has not been released pending family notification, authorities said.

Fort Morgan Municipal Airport is a small regional airport that serves general aviation traffic. Midair collisions during landing or approach phases, while uncommon, are among the types of accidents that air-safety investigators scrutinize closely because they often involve multiple factors such as communication, traffic sequencing, pilot visual acquisition, and aircraft performance during critical phases of flight. Investigators typically review radio communications, witness statements, radar or transponder data if available, and the maintenance and flight histories of the aircraft involved.

Deputies and emergency crews were dispatched immediately after the 10:45 a.m. report and remained on scene throughout the day securing wreckage and conducting initial inquiries, the sheriff’s office said. No further details about the timeline of rescue actions or the precise sequence of events in the final moments before the collision were released on Sunday.

Local residents and airport users described seeing the two planes hit and then fall to the ground. Multiple media outlets reported that some bystanders attempted to aid survivors and to douse flames before professional firefighters arrived. The extent of structural damage to the airport facilities was not detailed by authorities.

Authorities emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages. The FAA and local investigators are collecting evidence at the crash sites, and officials said they would release additional information as it becomes available and as next-of-kin notifications are completed.

Sunday’s accident marks a rare but deadly aviation mishap for the region. Colorado has a broad mix of general aviation activity, including flight training, recreational flying, and aerobatic operations; the Extra EA-300 is an aerobatic-style aircraft commonly used for sport and competition flying. The FAA’s ongoing probe will aim to determine contributing factors, including pilot actions and whether established landing procedures and communications were followed.

Off-site authorities and aviation-safety experts often join local investigators in these cases to analyze technical data, but the sheriff’s office did not provide a timeline for when a final investigative report might be completed. In the immediate aftermath, the priority for responders was to secure the scene, treat the injured and determine the identity of the deceased.

Those with information about the crash were asked to contact Morgan County law enforcement. Officials urged anyone who witnessed the collision or who recorded the event on video to preserve any evidence that might assist the investigation. Further updates were expected as agencies process on-scene findings and coordinate follow-up inquiries.