Ultralight Aircraft Crashes, Killing Pilot

A Seattle man was killed Sunday when his experimental aircraft crashed and burned in the northern Salish Range about 18 miles west of here.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the victim as Milton W. Rice, 46. He had been visiting friends in Whitefish and left from there at about 11:45 a.m.

The crash was reported at 12:24 p.m. Witnesses said the ultralight-style aircraft was making popping sounds, like it was having engine trouble, just before it crashed.

Patrol Sgt. Brock Wilson of the Flathead County sheriff’s department said Rice, an experienced pilot, may have been attempting an emergency landing on nearby U.S. 93, but was coming down too fast.

Area residents were able to extinguish a small fire started by the crash, but not before the silver and yellow plane burned.

“We were there within three or four minutes of the plane going down,” said Serena Love, who rushed to the scene with her husband and neighbors after phoning 911.

She said the victim was still in the plane, which was engulfed in flames.

“We were just trying to put the fire out,” she said. xxxx