Montana

Frontier Airlines Flight 32 of March 12, 1964, crashed and burned during an instrument approach to the Miles City Airport, Miles City, Montana, about 2050 m.s.t. All five occupants, three crew members and two passengers were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed. Weather conditions last reported to the flight were the operational minima of ceiling 400 feet and visibility one mile. Wet snow, strong gusty winds, and near freezing temperatures prevailed. Investigation revealed neither malfunctioning of any of the aircraft's components nor of any of the pertinent airport navigational facilities including the VOR, which was utilized. All applicable FAA certification was in order.

An AAXICO Airlines, Inc., C-46-F, N 67941, a cargo flight, crash landed in a plowed field and skidded into a small earthen dam approximately 35 miles eastnortheast of Malmstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, Montana, at approximately 1500 m.s.t., on August 14, 1963. The crash occurred after the pilot failed to maintain altitude and appropriate single-engine airspeed following the shut-down of the right engine. The first officer sustained fatal injuries; the captain sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire.

On behalf of the Montana Air National Guard, the aircraft departed Helena Airport bound for Cut Bank, carrying a crew of three and three members of the Montana Government who were en route to a speaking engagement. Weather conditions worsened and the crew encountered heavy winds and snow falls. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in the Wolf Creek Canyon located about 25 miles north of Helena. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj Clifford Hanson, pilot,
Maj Joseph Devine, copilot,
M/Sgt Charles Ballard, mechanic.
Passengers:
Donald Grant Nutter, Governor of Montana,
Dennis Gordon, executive secretary,
Edward Wren, commissioner of agriculture.

On October 28, 1960, at 1139 m. s. t., a Douglas C-54A-DC, N 48762, operated by Northwest Airlines, Inc., as Flight 104, crashed and burned approximately 13 nautical miles northwest of the Missoula, Montana Airport. The captain, first officer, two hostesses and all eight passengers died in the crash. The flight took off from Spokane, Washington, on an instrument flight plan. En route radio reports were routine and indicated the flight was on schedule, and in no difficulty. The aircraft was observed from the ground flying on course toward Missoula in and along the Clark Fork Valley within six nautical miles west of the scene of the crash. The engines were running and the aircraft was descending as if on an approach to a landing. As the aircraft descended deeper into the valley, flight visibility became restricted by light snow showers, and the tops of the mountains surrounding the valley were obscured by the overcast. The aircraft entered a steep left banking turn and the nose was raised in an apparent attempt to turn and climb out through an intersecting valley; however, the aircraft continued to sink toward the ground, rolled to the left and crashed inverted. The Board believes the accident was caused by the failure of the pilot to continue in accordance with his IFR flight plan by attempting a VFR approach during instrument weather conditions.

The crew was performing a crop spraying mission at Townsend, Montana. While flying at low height, the left engine lost power and eventually detached. The crew elected to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed. Both occupants were slightly injured while the airplane was written off.

The airplane was completing a special flight from Seattle to Boston, carrying 37 Korean War veterans and a crew of seven. Shortly after takeoff from Miles City Airport, the right engine caught fire. The crew decided to return for a safe landing but the captain realized he could not make it so he reduced his altitude and made a belly landing in a field located few miles from the airport. The aircraft came to rest in flames, and while all 44 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was totally consumed by fire.

The three engine aircraft left Spotted Bear-US Forest Service Airport with a pilot and six smoke jumpers on board. While flying at low height over the Flathead Indian Reserve located south of Kalispell, the aircraft suffered a simultaneous failure of all three engines. It stalled and crashed in a wooded area. All seven occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The crew was completing a crop spraying mission against spruce bud worms. While flying at low height, the three engine aircraft hit power cable and crashed in a field. Both crew members were killed.

The crew was engaged in a local spraying mission. During the takeoff roll, the crew encountered strong crosswinds. The three engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames against an embankment. Both pilots were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

While cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet on a flight from Edmonton to Denver, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine. A propeller blade detached and hit the fuselage. Shortly later, the engine suffered severe vibrations and later detached from its mount. In such conditions, the crew decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located 12 miles east of Billings, hit a ditch and came to rest in flames. Eight occupants were killed while eight others were injured.