Teen Driver Crashes Through Airport Fence, Strikes PlaneSense Pilatus PC-12 at Portsmouth International Airport

A 17-year-old driver fleeing a New Hampshire State Police trooper crashed through a perimeter fence at Portsmouth International Airport (KPSM) on Saturday night, striking a Kubota tractor and a parked Pilatus PC-12 operated by PlaneSense on the airport ramp before coming to a stop. State police said a trooper attempted to stop a black 2008 Ford Mustang on Durham Street in Portsmouth at 8:09 p.m. while searching for a vehicle connected to crimes reported in other jurisdictions. The driver fled after spotting the trooper, crossed onto airport property without headlights, and struck the tractor and the aircraft. The Pilatus PC-12 sustained substantial damage, with photos showing the left wing severed.

The driver was identified as Wyatt Seely, 17, of Rochester, New Hampshire. He was taken into custody at the scene and transported to a hospital as a precaution. Seely was charged with misdemeanor counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated (DWI), DWI, disobeying a police officer, and conduct after an accident, as well as a violation-level offense of reckless driving. He is scheduled for arraignment at Portsmouth District Court on September 9.

In a statement, PlaneSense confirmed the incident occurred at the company's national headquarters, where the aircraft had been waiting for routine maintenance. The operator said no employees were injured and no flights or operations were impacted. PlaneSense noted that staff on duty provided initial assistance to the driver, helped stabilize the scene, and minimized environmental impact before emergency responders arrived. State police were assisted by the Portsmouth police and fire departments, the Newington Police Department, and Pease Fire and Emergency Services. PlaneSense said it is cooperating with authorities and airport staff as the investigation continues.

Perimeter security incidents at general aviation airports are usually framed around unauthorized access by aircraft or people; this case shows the same vulnerability applies to vehicles fleeing law enforcement on adjacent public roads, with a parked fractional-ownership aircraft absorbing the damage. Fractional operators like PlaneSense keep aircraft parked on ramps between assignments for routine maintenance, and that exposure sits outside the operator's own safety systems since the risk originates from outside the airport boundary rather than from flight operations.

The fact that PlaneSense reported no impact to flights or operations suggests the affected aircraft was one of several in its fleet available for scheduling, but the extent of the damage to the wing points to a repair timeline and insurance claim that will play out separately from day-to-day service. Whether the airport reviews fencing or perimeter monitoring near Durham Street, and what the investigation determines about the pursuit itself, are the next points likely to surface as the case moves toward Seely's September 9 arraignment.