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Plane makes rough emergency landing at Provo Airport, sparking fire and forcing multi-hour closure
By: Averie Klonowski , Jeff Tavs
PROVO, Utah — A small plane made a hard
landing and caught fire on a runway at the Provo Airport on Monday afternoon, causing delays for travelers ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. after the pilot reported receiving error messages just about 10 minutes after taking off. It was meant to fly to Van Nuys, California.
"They quickly made a circle around to get the aircraft back on the ground,” said Brian Torgersen, the director of the Provo Airport.
The landing ruptured a fuel tank, which sparked a fire on the runway. All four people on the plane are OK, although one did get taken to the hospital.
“[They] were able to self-extricate, get themselves out of the aircraft, and get away from it. We were able to extinguish the fire pretty quickly,” said Torgersen.
The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the incident.
The crash and cleanup halted both inbound and outbound flights, which left some holiday travelers in limbo.
Jayne Jonas, who was traveling to Arizona to see her family, was still waiting for an update hours after her scheduled 4:30 p.m. boarding time.
“I would be so sad. I have so many plans with my family that I’m looking forward to. I was excited to get out of Utah’s cold for the week,” said Jonas.
Brothers Chase and Clayton Walburger were also eager to get home to California but faced an additional hurdle. Their flight to Orange County has a strict curfew, preventing late-night arrivals.
“I’m not the optimist. I assume we’re not taking
off. But we’re here just in case,” Clayton said.
The passengers acknowledged the common frustrations of holiday travel.
“It’s the holidays, right?” said Clayton.
Despite the uncertainty, Jonas remained hopeful: “We’ll see, crossing fingers, all goes well.”
The airport was finally reopened shortly before 10:30 p.m., but officials warned that travelers should still expect major delays and check with their airline.
https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/northern-utah/passengers-evacuated-after-plane-catches-fire-at-provo-airport
Three survive plane crash in Florida, sheriff provides update
by Skyler Shepard
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. (CBS12) — Three people
walked away unharmed after a small plane crash near Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport on Monday afternoon, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said there was an increased law enforcement presence in the area of Silent Breeze Street and Wolf Road following the incident. The crash occurred in a rural field about one to two miles north of the airport, where cattle graze.
Sheriff Nienhuis confirmed in a briefing around 3:15 p.m. that all three occupants of the aircraft declined medical assistance.
"It’s really a happy ending,” Nienhuis said. “We wanted to get the information out there in case you start hearing rumors."
The aircraft involved was a 1960s Piper Comanche, the sheriff said. Initial reports indicated the plane experienced fuel issues and a rough-running engine while en route from Talladega, Alabama, to Lakeland, Florida. Unable to reach the Brooksville airport, the pilot executed an emergency landing in the field.
While the plane sustained significant damage, all passengers escaped without injury, the sheriff reported. Federal authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have been notified and will lead the investigation into the crash.
Residents are advised that law enforcement activity in the area is related to the crash and poses no public safety threat.
This incident comes after another plane crash in South Florida on Nov. 10 that claimed the lives of two people.
https://cbs12.com/news/local/three-survive-plane-crash-in-florida-sheriff-provides-update-south-florida-news-brooksville-tampa-bay-regional-airport-november-24-2025
NTSB Final Report: Glasair GlaStar
Smoke Began Entering The Cockpit During The Landing Flare, And Then The Pilot Noticed Flames...
Location: Hearne, Texas Accident Number: CEN25LA352
Date & Time: August 28, 2025, 18:00 Local Registration: N605MN
Aircraft: Glasair GlaStar Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fire/smoke (non-impact) Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot reported that about 30 minutes into the local flight, he heard some crackling in the radio reception and then the cockpit flight displays went blank. The engine stumbled and lost power completely. The pilot was operating the airplane in the airport traffic pattern at that time and decided to secure the engine to set up for a forced landing to the runway. Smoke began entering the cockpit during the landing flare, and then the pilot noticed flames on the right side of the airplane. After he stopped the airplane, he exited, obtained a fire extinguisher, and called the fire department. The airplane sustained substantial fire damage to the fuselage, empennage, and engine mounts.
A postaccident examination revealed extensive thermal damage to the engine and within the engine compartment. The damage extended into the cockpit and cabin area, and then along the right side to the aft fuselage. While clear that the fire started within the engine compartment, the extent of the damage prevented a determination of the exact location and source of the fire.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The inflight engine compartment fire for reasons that could not be determined.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
35 Years ago today: On 25 November 1990 An Elitos Helicopters Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma crashed into the sea off Ravenna, Italy, killing all 13 occupants.
| Date: | Sunday 25 November 1990 |
| Time: | 07:47 |
| Type: | Aérospatiale SA 330J Puma |
| Owner/operator: | Elitos Helicopters Spa |
| Registration: | I-EHPA |
| MSN: | 1133 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1972 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 8147 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | off Marina di Ravenna - Italy |
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Offshore |
| Departure airport: | Marina di Ravenna |
| Destination airport: | Offshore Installation |
| Confidence Rating: | Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Narrative:
An Elitos Helicopters Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma crashed into the sea off Ravenna, Italy, killing all 13 occupants.
The aircraft was destroyed when it went out of control about 3 minutes after take-off. The accident resulted from the fatigue failure of a main rotor hub spindle with subsequent loss of that rotor blade. Three crew and ten passengers from the oil company AGIP.
