Update 5:00 p.m. Monday, July 28 - Clearwater County Sheriff Chris Goetz said the plane that crashed near Lolo Pass was a single engine Lance Air two-seat aircraft. Information received by Goetz's office indicates the pilot was flying from Richland, Washington to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for an Experimental Aircraft Association convention when the crash occurred. 

Goetz said the crash occurred near Tobacco Ridge and Black Lead, about 150 feet from the Forest Service 581 road. Goetz added there was no fire resulting from the crash.

Clearwater County Sheriff Chris Goetz

 

Update: 3:10, July 28 - The Clearwater County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the pilot of a small plane that crashed near Lolo Pass is dead. No other people were on board the plane. Information about the deceased will be released after the family has been notified.

Update: 2:00 p.m., July 28 - The Clearwater County Sheriff's Office is confirming they have found the location of the downed plane. Though little else is known about the plane or its passengers, the Sheriff's office released the following report:

The Clearwater County Sheriff's Office received a call from Missoula County Sheriff's Office, that there was an aircraft that had gone off radar. The Idaho Bureau of Aeronautics was also advised. Two Bear Air Helicopter of Flathead County responded from the Hamilton area where they were on standby for another search and a Forest Service Helicopter was requested by Clearwater County Sheriff's Office to go into the area. Two Bear Air was able to locate the aircraft near the Black Lead area. There is no further information at this time.

Update: 1:00 p.m., July 28 - Reports are confirming that a crashed plane has been found. The plane is on the Idaho side of the border and the investigation is being run by the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office which is simply saying "no comment," to all questions at this point.

It is still unknown what type of plane has crashed, or if there are any survivors.

Original story 11:20, July 28 - The Montana Civil Air Patrol is getting ready to investigate reports of a possible crashed airplane or helicopter near Lolo Pass.

Wing Commander Colonel Nolan Teel reported at around 11:40 a.m., July 28, that crews were preparing to take off and investigate the reports, but that not much is known at this point.

The Montana Department of Aeronautics has been contacted for more information, including the type of air-vehicle that may have crashed. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

 

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