Plane crash near Missoula leaves two dead

MISSOULA – Authorities said two people have died after a single-engine plane crashed on the edge of Interstate 90 southeast of Missoula.

The Missoulian reported that the victims of the Sunday crash near the Rock Creek Airport have not yet been identified.

Missoula County sheriff’s Capt. Bill Burt said witnesses reported the plane had been trying to land at the south end of the runway when it crashed into some trees and went down on the side of the highway.

He said the pilot had departed from Missoula.

The impact of the Cessna 182-D had ignited a grass fire and caused the closure of the right lane of eastbound I-90 for several hours.

The National Transportation Safety Board was expected to arrive at the crash site Monday to investigate.