Zone
Montana

Crash of a Beechcraft Queen Air 65 in Billings: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1964 at 1005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 65 Queen Air
Operator:
Hood Corporation
Registration:
N451H
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Boise – Billings
MSN:
LC-90
YOM:
1961
Location:
Billings-Logan
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
7041
Circumstances:
On final approach to Billings-Logan Airport, one of the engine failed. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames onto a house. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a mismanagement of fuel on part of the crew. Due to inadequate supervision of flight, a fuel starvation occurred.
Contributing factors were:
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Complete engine failure/flameout on one engine,
- Fire after impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in Billings: 19 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1945 at 0113 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
45-0922
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minneapolis – Fargo – Billings
MSN:
16925/34183
YOM:
1945
Location:
Billings-Logan
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Fargo to Billings with 21 veterans on board. In flight, the weather conditions at destination worsened and visibility dropped from 10 miles to half a mile due to heavy snow storm. On final approach to Billings Airport, the aircraft was too low, hit a tree and crashed in flames in a snow covered field, 400 meters short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 17 passengers were killed, four others were seriously injured. Those killed were:
Crew:
Cpt George D. Miller, pilot,
Cpt Vernon Pfannkuch, pilot.
Maj Ray Craft,
S/Sgt Thomas Thomsen,
T/Sgt Glenn Marr,
Sgt Don Haley,
Tec Virgil Kinne,
Tec Warren Parrish,
Lt Anthony Alnsky,
Pfc Clayton Thompson,
Tec Fred Chapman,
Pfc Maceo Hobbs,
Pfc Walter Orchard,
Tec John Marshall,
Sgt Charles Ennen,
Cpl Lorrell Cassell,
Tec Ned Neasham,
Pfc David Gillett,
Tec Adolph Tokie.
Those who survived were:
Tec Emil A. Hasch,
Pfc Raymond Parkins,
Cpl Milford Barnes,
Tec Raymond Emerson.
Probable cause:
According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency, it appears that the pilot descended too rapidly during the last turn to the left and failed to allow for the possibility of a downdraft. At any rate, (the) pilot wound up below the level of the field, still in a turning attitude, (then the) aircraft struck a tree, crashed and burned.

Crash of a Ford 4 in Billings: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1942 at 0811 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 4
Operator:
Atlantic Airmotive
Registration:
NC6892
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4-AT-028
YOM:
31
Location:
Billings-Logan
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off from Billings Airport, killing both crew members who were on a delivery flight to the US Army Engineer Corps.
Probable cause:
Excessive accumulation of ice on airframe, wings and elevators caused the aircraft to stall after rotation.

Crash of a Lockheed 14H Super Electra in Billings: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1938 at 0256 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
NC17383
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Seattle – Spokane – Helena – Billings – Fargo
MSN:
1402
YOM:
1938
Flight number:
NW004
Location:
Billings-Logan
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
11500
Circumstances:
Following a night takeoff from Billings Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. A passenger was killed while all nine other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Walter R. Bullock, pilot,
Lester H. Doan, copilot.
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of the Investigating Board that the probable caused of this accident was a stall at low altitude, following take-off, from which the pilot was unable to recover, due to lack of emergency power.
Final Report:
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