Small plane crashes near Helena Regional Airport, leaving 2 injured

A small plane crashed late Wednesday into a building south of Helena Regional Airport, injuring two people.

The Helena Fire Department responded to the 3100 block of Bozeman Avenue at 9:51 p.m.

Two people, a male and female, were in the single-engine Beechcraft Aircraft. They suffered facial injuries and were transported to the hospital, Assistant Fire Chief Mike Chambers said.

The building is owned by Tri-County Mechanical and Electrical. An employee said the building was vacant. The plane had hit the front of the building.

According the Federal Aviation Administration's aircraft registry, the airplane is a 1950 Beech B-35, with a tail number 5204C registered to Peace Sign LLC in Bozeman, Montana.

Chambers said firefighters had searched the building and no one was inside. The building is within view of the Federal Aviation Administration tower at the airport.

Jeff Wadekamper, airport director, said it is not known at this time what caused the crash.

“We are just glad there are no fatalities and no one was injured on the ground," he said.

He said he believed the plane, which had flown down from Great Falls, was trying to make a landing.

Wadekamper said such crashes are a rare occurrence at the airport, reflecting the many safety features in place with aviation.

He said the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA would investigate the crash.

The NTSB said it had no information to report at this time.

“The NTSB will work with the FAA who will conduct an initial documentation and damage assessment of the aircraft,” the NTSB said in email.

The city of Helena said the Helena Fire and Police departments, Helena Regional Airport Authority Aircraft Rescue Firefighters, NTSB, FAA have all cooperated in response. 

No further information was immediately available. The crash was first reported by KTVH.