ST MARIES, Idaho — A 70-year-old man is dead after his Cessna airplane crashed immediately after takeoff in St. Maries.
The pilot of the plane, Jerry Siebert, had just celebrated his 70th birthday Wednesday. Officials are investigating what exactly led to his death.
An employee with the Jack A Buell Airport in St. Maries told KREM 2 the plane crashed shortly after the man took off from the airport. The plane reportedly came down just a few hundred yards from the runaway after the engine failed.
Valerie Sutherlin, a support volunteer at the St. Maries Airport, said there were immediate signs of trouble after takeoff.
“An eyewitness said they noticed smoke coming off the engine and a family member has told the sheriff’s department the pilot did announce engine failure before he crashed," she explained.
Watch more from St. Maries: Deer with crooked neck spotted in St. Maries
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