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Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Miles City: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1978 at 0205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N6308U
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Billings – Miles City – Wolf Point
MSN:
500-1309-121
YOM:
1963
Location:
Miles City
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3414
Captain / Total hours on type:
416.00
Circumstances:
After his departure from Miles City Airport, while climbing by night over an unlighted area, the pilot was cleared to climb to 6,000 feet. At a relative low altitude and high speed, the left wing outboard section failed and detached. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure in flight and uncontrolled descent after the pilot diverted attention from operation of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Airframe - wings: other,
- Separation in flight,
- Overload failure,
- Fire after impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Utica: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1973 at 1910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Southwestern Railway Company
Registration:
N69307
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Stanford - Stanford
MSN:
402-0425
YOM:
1973
Location:
Utica
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
1112
Captain / Total hours on type:
81.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Stanford Airport in the evening on a local pleasure flight. While flying at a relative low altitude, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames in a prairie located in Utica, about 14 miles southeast of Stanford. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft stalled due to an insufficient speed. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to maintain flying speed,
- Unwarranted low flying,
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Buzzed tavern twice,
- Pilot blood alcohol level 0,9‰.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II in Kalispell

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1972 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 421B Golden Eagle II
Operator:
Nasco Leasing Company
Registration:
N424WP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kalispell - Boulder
MSN:
421B-0143
YOM:
1971
Location:
Kalispell
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:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3860
Captain / Total hours on type:
278.00
Circumstances:
Following a long takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the twin engine airplane overran and came to rest. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, both occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Powerplant for undetermined reason. The following factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command exercised poor judgment,
- The pilot-in-command failed to abort takeoff,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Partial loss of power on one engine,
- Used all of runway before liftoff,
- No engine malfunction found while pilot stated left engine failed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 near Noxon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1972 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Red Carpet Flying Service
Registration:
N2776
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Topographic
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Walla Walla - Libby
MSN:
500-693
YOM:
1958
Location:
Noxon
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
Captain / Total flying hours:
5131
Captain / Total hours on type:
57.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a mapping/photo mission from Walla Walla (Washington) to Libby, Montana. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in the region of Noxon. The wreckage was found June 16, 1972. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent caused by improper in-flight decisions or planning on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction system icing,
- Ice-carburetor,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Airframe ice,
- Complete failure of both engines,
- Flew into icing conditions beyond capability of aircraft deicing systems.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 24D in Butte: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1971 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 24
Operator:
Registration:
N123CB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Polson - Butte
MSN:
24-232
YOM:
1970
Location:
Butte
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:
768
Captain / Total hours on type:
147.00
Circumstances:
The descent to Butte Airport was started in poor weather conditions a zero visibility due to fog. While descending to an altitude of 6,060 feet, the airplane struck trees and crashed on the slope of a mountain located few miles from the airfield. The wreckage was found two days later and all four occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was flying at an insufficient altitude of 6,060 feet while the minimum safe altitude was about 8,000 feet.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the flying crew. The following factors were reported:
- No record of weather briefing received,
- Weather forecast unknown or not reported,
- Hit mountain at 6,060 feet approximately 1,6 NM from VOR,
- Published altitude about 8,000 feet,
- Mountains obscured by fog,
- Airport below minimums.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Glendive: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1968 at 0718 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N6281X
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Glendive – Hilger
MSN:
500-1150-82
YOM:
1962
Location:
Glendive
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3379
Captain / Total hours on type:
302.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Glendive-Dawson County Airport, the pilot encountered engine trouble and decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and attempted an emergency braking manoeuvre. On a runway covered with two inches of snow, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest down a bank. Six occupants were injured and a passenger was killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the combination of the following factors:
- Engine failure caused by the malfunction of the ignition system which was improperly secured,
- Engine structure, valve assemblies,
- Improper alignment/adjustment,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Runway covered by two inches of snow,
- The pilot knew that the left magneto was inoperative and attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Number 4 cylinder exhaust valve failed during takeoff.
Final Report:

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 Boeing B-17G-PB-1W Flying Fortress in Kalispell

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1967 at 0927 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
N7228C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kalispell - Kalispell
MSN:
32498
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kalispell
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:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2600
Captain / Total hours on type:
210.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kalispell Airport while on a firefighting mission, the copilot informed ground that the engine number three caught fire and elected to return for an emergency landing. Fire spread quickly to the right wing and the crew realized he could not make it so the captain attempted an emergency landing in an open field located near the airport. The airplane crash landed and came to rest in flames. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Fire on engine number three after takeoff for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-65-BO Stratofortress near Jordan: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1964 at 2255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
55-0108
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Larson - Larson
MSN:
17224
YOM:
1955
Location:
Jordan
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed while on night low‑level mission in Montana. Mission was to make two low-level entry points for training a new navigator and testing ground avoidance equipment. The first entry point was the Flint Rock Oil Burner Run where plane was flying a most level flight path missing the first knoll at 2550' elevation, continued until contacting a second knoll approximately 300' farther on the line of flight where plane disintegrated. The wreckage was found near Jordan, about 60 miles south of Glasgow.
Crew:
Cpt Guido J. Pizzeck Jr., pilot,
Cpt Willis C. Morris, copilot,
Cpt John H. Pulliam, navigator,
Cpt Jerry W. Berendzen, navigator,
1st Lt Daniel C. Woodward, EWO,
1st Lt David L. Harlan, navigator,
T/Sgt Edwin Fonzy Arlington, air gunner.

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:
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