Zone
Montana

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560F near Wolf Creek: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1968 at 1055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Northwest Moon Services
Registration:
N6257X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Great Falls - Missoula
MSN:
560-1115-33
YOM:
1961
Location:
Wolf Creek
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
7157
Captain / Total hours on type:
107.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, turbulences, high winds and freezing rain. Under VFR mode, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot continued under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions,
- Loss of control for undetermined reason,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorms,
- Flew into known turbulences.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-1-DC Skymaster near Snag: 44 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1950 at 1409 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72469
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Anchorage – Great Falls
MSN:
10577
YOM:
1945
Location:
Snag
Yukon
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was performing a flight from Anchorage to Great Falls with a crew of eight and 36 passengers on board, among them two civilians, an entrepreneur and his son. Around 1400LT, while flying over the west part of Canada, not far from the US border, the crew informed ground about his position and confirmed that all was running smoothly. About nine minutes later, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the region of Snag, Yukon. SAR operations were conducted and considerable helps were deployed, without success. All operations were eventually suspended after few weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the 44 occupants was ever found. Up to 2016, the wreckage has not been found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidence, it was impossible to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, icing conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Sand Point NAS

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48936
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Great Falls - McChord
MSN:
14752/26197
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sand Point NAS
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 6,5 miles north of Sand Point NAS while on a flight from Great Falls (Montana) to McChord. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-35-BO Flying Fortress near Fort Benton: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1943 at 0010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-5128
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Great Falls - Great Falls
MSN:
3667
YOM:
1942
Location:
Fort Benton
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While performing a night bombing exercise, the four-engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 6 miles east of Fort Benton. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Jack Y. Fisk,
2nd Lt Arnold J. Gardiner,
Sgt Robert H. Hall,
Sgt John T. Hough,
Sgt Carl E. Lower,
2nd Lt Warren Henry Maginn,
Sgt Chester W. Peko,
Pfc Paul M. Peterson,
Sgt Curio C. Tremonti,
2nd Lt Harold L. Wonders.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-645A Norseman in Great Falls

Date & Time: May 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5139
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
130
YOM:
1943
Location:
Great Falls
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Great Falls-Gore Field, the single engine aircraft went out of control and ground looped. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-35-BO Flying Fortress near Musselshell: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-5123
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Great Falls - Great Falls
MSN:
3662
Location:
Musselshell
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While flying over Melstone, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reason. Shortly later, it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of Mt Bull located south of Musselshell. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd BG):
Ed Layfield, pilot,
Gerald Beem, copilot,
Lewis Newland, navigator,
Chester Knight, bombardier,
Fred Brown, flight engineer,
Hulon Dutton, radio operator,
Chas Valys, air gunner,
Wallace Hanson, air gunner,
Fred Murray, air gunner,
Hobart Hall, air gunner,
Orville Ralston, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Unknown in flight fire.

Crash of a Fokker Super Universal in Pocatello: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1928 at 1150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker Universal
Operator:
Registration:
NC7242
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Great Falls – Pocatello – Salt Lake City
MSN:
809
YOM:
1928
Location:
Pocatello
Idaho
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On final approach to Pocatello Airport, crew was completing a last turn to join the glide when the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that crew maybe encountered technical problems as he made six low passes over farmers in the area of Pocatello during the half hour prior to the accident. The cause of those manoeuvres could be determined with certainty.
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