A pilot died Thursday, Oct. 1, after a small plane crashed into a wooded area about 750 feet west of Paine Field Airport's main runway during takeoff.

The aircraft, a Glasair identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), went down at approximately 2:48 p.m. Paine Field Fire Department crews found the plane engulfed in flames and quickly extinguished the fire. The pilot, the sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Paine Field spokesperson Kristin Banfield told Fox 13 Seattle that airport staff had cleared the pilot for takeoff and detected no problems beforehand. "All we know at this time was that he was cleared for takeoff and he was making that maneuver at the time," Banfield said.

The crash site sits on the 99XX block of West Perimeter Road, just west of the runway. Mukilteo Fire Department and South County Fire Department crews assisted at the scene.

What it means for travelers

The main runway closed for about an hour during the emergency response. The runway reopened by approximately 4 p.m.

Three departing flights were delayed, according to FlightAware data reported by Fox 13 Seattle. A Horizon Air flight from Las Vegas was diverted to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, The Seattle Times reported. An Alaska Airlines flight to Phoenix was delayed roughly one hour. Paine Field serves as a commercial airport for Everett-area travelers, with Alaska Airlines operating daily flights.

NTSB, FAA investigating

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA are both investigating the cause of the crash.

No preliminary findings have been released.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the pilot's identity and official cause of death. Banfield said there was no information on where the pilot had been headed.

Glasair planes are small, home-built aircraft manufactured by Glasair Aviation, based in Arlington. Four other fatal U.S. crashes involving Glasair planes have occurred since 2020, according to NTSB records. Those accident reports cited engine failures, fuel issues and unfavorable weather conditions.

Banfield said it had been six to eight years since a fatal or significant-injury crash at Paine Field. The Edmonds Beacon reported that prior incidents include a 2015 crash that killed one of two occupants and a 2017 crash in which both occupants survived.