Fatal plane crash near Sandpoint

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a plane crash near Sandpoint that occurred sometime Thursday.

All occupants were killed, but officials have not said how many were aboard.

A possible missing aircraft was reported just after 9:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.

An emergency locator beacon was detected and searchers found the debris of a plane crash on the south side of Round Mountain near the town of Hope, Idaho, at 2:30 p.m.

The plane was a Cessna 182 fixed wing.

Clark Fork Fire and Rescue responded to the crash site. Fire Marshal Lois John said the flight originated from Bird Aviation in Sagle and was headed to Boise.

The Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in Sagle was founded by the late Dr. Forrest Bird and his wife, Pamela. It has its own private airstrip. Bird, who died in August, was a pilot and inventor.

The National Transportation Safety Board will take over the crash investigation.