Two men died after a small aircraft crashed into the Payette River near Black Canyon in Idaho on Tuesday morning, after allegedly clipping a power line mid-flight, officials confirmed.

The Gem County Sheriff’s Office said first responders received reports of the crash shortly before 11 am. Preliminary findings indicate that the aircraft struck a power line before plunging onto the ice-covered river.

Power line strike led to deadly crash

According to the sheriff’s office, the pilot appears to have lost control after the aircraft hit the power line supplying electricity to the Horseshoe Bend area. The plane then crashed into the Payette River, resulting in the deaths of both occupants on board. Their identities have not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.

Emergency personnel from Gem County Fire and EMS rushed to the scene near Black Canyon and began recovery operations. Authorities said the crash site remains under investigation to determine the exact cause and sequence of events.

Widespread power outage reported

Idaho Power separately confirmed that the aircraft striking the power line triggered a large-scale outage affecting more than 5,300 customers in Crouch, Horseshoe Bend and Placerville.

The outage led to significant disruption in the region. Schools in Horseshoe Bend were forced to cancel classes for the day as buildings could not be heated during freezing conditions. Students were sent home by early afternoon, with special arrangements made for younger children.

Idaho Power said electricity was fully restored to all affected customers by around 2.45 pm.

Investigation underway

Officials said federal aviation authorities are expected to join the investigation to examine flight conditions, aircraft maintenance records and weather factors at the time of the crash.

The tragedy has cast a pall over the close-knit rural community, with local officials urging caution for low-flying aircraft near critical infrastructure, especially during winter conditions when rivers are frozen and visibility can be deceptive.

Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.