Thursday, September 10, 2026
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Plane makes dive into Polson Airport field near Highway 93

EMILY MESSER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 hours, 47 minutes AGO
by EMILY MESSER
Emily Messer joined the Lake County Leader in July of 2025 after earning a B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Montana. Emily grew up in the rolling hills of southeast Missouri. She's lived in Montana since 2022 and honed her reporting craft through the UM J-School newspaper and internships at the RMEF Bugle Magazine and the Missoulian. At the Leader, she covers government, business, education, agriculture and community news. Contact Emily Messer at [email protected] or 406.883.4343 | September 10, 2026 1:00 PM

A 1960s Cessna 210 made a crash landing into the Polson Airport field fence just after 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, after losing lift as it made its way over The Shoe and U.S. 93.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell said the pilot followed protocols to glide farther but came down on the north fence, damaging the fence and plane. Bar wire from the fence wrapped around one propeller and bent the plane's wing. 

The plane then skidded into the field, leaving tracks behind as one landing-gear wheel was crushed beneath it. 

Bell said the pilot was walking and talking after arriving quickly on scene, and no injuries were reported. The pilot's name is not being released at this time.

Bell explained that the upward air underneath the plane was not carrying it, causing the plane to fall. Weather conditions did not affect the flight. 

Bell said the department is unsure how high the plane was above U.S. 93 as it crossed over, but it just missed the highway before striking the airport fence. 

The Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Polson Rural Fire, city of Polson Fire Department, city of Polson Police Department and Polson Ambulance Services responded to the call.

    The plane hit the north Polson Airport fence and skidded into the field, just barely past Highway 93. (Courtesy of City of Polson Fire Department)

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