Newly released details from the City of Driggs, Idaho, have clarified what happened when a Cirrus Vision Jet attempted to take off from a runway that was closed for construction at Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (DIJ), striking construction material and suffering a landing gear collapse. One passenger was injured and the aircraft was substantially damaged.
According to the city, the accident occurred at about 06:30 local time on August 14, 2026, as the Vision Jet attempted to depart from Runway 4. A section of that runway had been closed for several weeks as part of an ongoing airport construction project. The normally 7,301-foot runway had been shortened for the work, leaving 3,850 feet available for takeoff.
The city said the Vision Jet entered the closed section and attempted to take off through the portion of the runway that was under construction. "The pilot was able to slow the plane upon approaching the construction site but could not avert a collision with construction material," Driggs Deputy City Administrator Doug Self said in a statement.
One passenger was injured in the collision and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. The extent of that passenger's injuries has not been released.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as N71KD and said it attempted to depart from part of the runway that was under construction, hit gravel, and the landing gear collapsed. According to FAA records, N71KD is registered to Vision71 Technologies of Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Driggs-Reed Memorial is a nontowered airport, meaning there is no control tower to issue takeoff clearances or to intervene if an aircraft lines up on a section of pavement that is out of service. Airport officials said pilots had been advised of the construction project several weeks before the work began, and a Notice to Airmen detailing the partial runway closure was issued on August 5.
That NOTAM states that the southwest 3,451 feet of Runway 04/22 is closed through September 5. For Runway 04, the notice lists 3,850 feet of takeoff run available, takeoff distance available and accelerate-stop distance available β the three declared distances a crew would use to confirm that a departure can be made safely from the shortened surface.
Authorities have not said why the Vision Jet entered the closed portion of the runway, or whether the pilot was aware of the NOTAM restriction. Those questions are central to the investigation now under way.
The Cirrus Vision Jet is a single-engine personal jet, with its turbofan mounted above the rear fuselage and a distinctive V-tail, and it is widely flown by owner-pilots operating into smaller general aviation fields. Airports of that size frequently carry out summer construction under partial closures, with declared distances published by NOTAM rather than marked by permanent signage, which places the burden of checking on the crew during pre-flight planning.
No further details on the aircraft's occupants or the investigation timeline have been released.
Sources: AeroTime. Featured image: AI-generated by AviationShop. By James Holloway.
Comments
Loading commentsβ¦