Cirrus Vision Jet Collides With Construction Equipment at Idaho Airport

Injured passenger hospitalized after accident during takeoff attempt at Driggs-Reed Memorial.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, August 17, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Cirrus Vision Jet over green hills [Credit: Cirrus]

Key Takeaways:

A Cirrus Vision Jet attempted takeoff from a closed, under-construction section of runway at Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport, colliding with construction materials.
The airport had previously issued a NOTAM and advisories weeks in advance regarding the temporary runway shortening and construction.
The incident resulted in one passenger injury and landing gear collapse, prompting investigations by the FAA and NTSB, with authorities emphasizing the pilot's responsibility to check NOTAMs.

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Authorities are investigating the collision of a Cirrus Vision Jet and a piece of construction equipment at Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (KDIJ) in Idaho on Friday.

The airport is a nontowered facility with a single runway aligned 04/22 that normally measures 7,301 feet by 100 feet. However, for several weeks the airport has temporarily been operating with a shortened runway due to a construction project.

Several weeks prior to the start of the work, airport officials published advisories to pilots about the project, and on August 5 a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued with details of the partial closure.

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To clarify the events leading up to the incident, Driggs city administrator Doug Self issued a statement detailing the specific circumstances. “At approximately 6:30 a.m. [MDT] on Friday, August 14, 2026, a Cirrus Vision Jet airplane entered a closed section of runway at Driggs Reed-Memorial Airport and attempted takeoff through a portion of runway that was under construction,” the release read. “The pilot was able to slow the plane upon approaching the construction site but could not avert a collision with construction material.”

One passenger on board the aircraft was injured and transported to a local hospital by ambulance. Their condition has not been released.

According to Self, the city of Driggs is working with the consulting project engineer, the FAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to identify what actions led to the crash.

According to preliminary information published by the FAA, the aircraft, identified as N71KD, is registered to Vision71 Technologies out of Chevy Chase, Maryland. The agency report noted the aircraft “attempted to depart from part of the runway that was under construction, hit gravel, and (the) landing gear collapsed.”

An FAA spokesperson added that it is the responsibility of the PIC to check NOTAMs before each flight.

The NOTAM, which remains in place until September 5 at 7 p.m. MDT, states: “Runway 04/22 southwest 3,451 feet closed. Declared distance: Runway 04 takeoff run available 3,850 feet takeoff distance available 3850T accelerate-stop distance available 3,850 feet landing distance available 3,850 feet. Runway 22 takeoff run available 3,850 feet takeoff distance available 3,850 feet accelerate-stop distance available 4,018 feet landing distance available 3,850 feet.”