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Crash of a Beechcraft B100 King Air in Miles City

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1996 at 0745 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N924WS
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Billings - Miles City
MSN:
BE-63
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5251
Captain / Total hours on type:
125.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9449
Circumstances:
The pilots obtained a complete weather briefing for their IFR flight. Before landing at their destination, they attempted to obtain an airport advisory on Unicom, but received no response. They landed on the runway in low visibility with the runway lights visible. After touchdown, the left main landing gear contacted a berm or snowbank on the left side of the plowed area, and the pilots were unable to maintain directional control. The aircraft drifted off the left side of the runway and came to rest on a reverse heading. The runway, which was 100 feet in width, had been plowed to about 45.5 feet width along the centerline. No notams had been filed concerning the partially plowed condition of the runway. The second officer (commercial pilot) noted that during the weather briefing, the pilot-in-command had been advised of thin, loose snow on the runway.
Probable cause:
Failure of airport personnel to properly remove snow from the runway or issue an appropriate notam concerning the runway condition. Factors relating to the accident were: the low light condition at dawn, and the snowbank or berm that was left on the runway.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690A in Miles City

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1987 at 1359 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N57133
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Billings – Miles City
MSN:
690-11133
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2398
Captain / Total hours on type:
45.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6216
Circumstances:
The pilot of the nonscheduled domestic passenger air taxi flight was flying the VOR/DME runway 22 approach to Wiley Field, Miles City, MT. The pilot said he turned on the autopilot and after turning inbound from the procedure turn towards the faf he engaged the approach mode. After crossing the faf the pilot descended to MDA and engaged the altitude hold mode. When he reached the map the pilot started to make a missed approach but a passenger, seated next to him in the copilot's seat, reported the runway in sight. The pilot said he saw the runway and retarded the throttles in order to descend for landing. The aircraft nose pitched up abruptly, the aircraft stalled, and mushed to the ground. The aircraft hit hard and skidded off the runway. Two occupants were injured and four others escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: abrupt maneuver
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Findings
1. Weather condition - low ceiling
2. (c) autopilot - improper use of - pilot in command
3. Weather condition - obscuration
4. (c) throttle/power control - reduced - pilot in command
5. Weather condition - fog
----------
Occurrence #2: loss of control - in flight
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Findings
6. (c) stall/mush - inadvertent - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: descent - uncontrolled
Findings
7. Terrain condition - runway
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Miles City

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1984 at 0203 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N743W
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Billings - Miles City
MSN:
500-1297-112
YOM:
1963
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2750
Captain / Total hours on type:
394.00
Aircraft flight hours:
13453
Circumstances:
The pilot said that when he called on the radio prior to the approach for an altimeter setting the reply was '30.11 or 30.12, something like that.' The aircraft altimeter was found after the accident set at 30.22 inches of mercury. The visibility was described as 1 and 1/2 miles in snow showers. He continued the approach 'because minimums are one mile.' He descended outbound to 4,500 feet. Minimum procedure turn alt is 4,700 feet msl. The pilot then descended to 3,700 feet msl as he approached the VOR. Power was reduced to 17-18 inches of manifold pressure and airspeed reduced to 120 knots. As the VOR was crossed he glanced at the altimeter and 'the hands were in the two o'clock position.' Landing gear was extended and approach flaps set. The pilot said all seemed normal. He looked out the window and saw 'wispy clouds going by rapidly. Then there were the sounds of impact.' The next thing remembered was the sound of dripping gasoline. The pilot said he crawled out of the cockpit window and wandered 'for a couple hours trying to chase down the searchlights.'
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (IFR)
Findings
1. (f) terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
2. (c) altimeter setting - improper - pilot in command
3. (f) weather condition - low ceiling
4. (c) ifr procedure - improper - pilot in command
5. (f) weather condition - obscuration
6. (c) proper altitude - below - pilot in command
7. (f) light condition - dark night
8. (c) minimum descent altitude - not maintained - pilot in command
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1978 at 0205 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6308U
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Billings – Miles City – Wolf Point
MSN:
500-1309-121
YOM:
1963
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 Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Miles City: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1964 at 2050 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N61442
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Billings – Miles City – Glendive – Sydney
MSN:
9642
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
FL032
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
15335
Captain / Total hours on type:
12830.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3539
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1355
Aircraft flight hours:
30442
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the descent below obstructing terrain, for reasons undeterminable, during an instrument approach in adverse weather conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Miles City

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1953 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N1673M
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Seattle – Miles City – Baltimore – Boston
MSN:
22460
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
The right engine caught fire shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-269 in Miles City: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1942 at 1151 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC21714
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chicago – Minneapolis – Fargo – Bismarck – Miles City – Butte – Spokane – Seattle
MSN:
2129
YOM:
1939
Flight number:
NW001
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
13899
Captain / Total hours on type:
2273.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
437
Copilot / Total hours on type:
77
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the crew was unable to stop the aircraft within the landing distance available. The aircraft overrun, rolled for several yards and collided with construction equipment before coming to rest in flames. Both pilots and a passenger were killed while all other occupants were injured. Delivered to Northwest Airlines in June 1939, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Upon the basis of all of the evidence available to the Board at this time, CAB find that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the captain to complete the landing run in the time to avoid the obstruction at the end of the runway, for reasons undetermined, and his action in attempting to take off after striking the obstruction.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 14H Super Electra in Miles City: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1939 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC17389
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chicago – Minneapolis – Fargo – Bismarck – Miles City – Butte – Spokane – Seattle
MSN:
1408
YOM:
1938
Flight number:
NW001
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
11800
Captain / Total hours on type:
600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4400
Copilot / Total hours on type:
600
Circumstances:
The aircraft started the take-off to the northwest at 2114LT, leaving the ground at a point approximating the intersection of the two field run rays, and crossed the field boundary in a normal climb. After reaching an estimated altitude of 500 feet, the aircraft began a slow turn to the left, thick is the usual procedure in contacting the west leg of the Miles City radio range for the purpose of continuing flight to Billings, Montana. Shortly after starting the turn, the aircraft was seen to lose altitude rapidly and descend almost to the ground before the descent was checked, and the aircraft pulled up in a sharp climb to an altitude approximating that previously attained. Immediately thereafter, the aircraft turned sharply to the loft and descended rapidly, striking the ground in a ravine and headed in a southeasterly direction with its left tang and nose slightly down. The aircraft traveled for a distance of approximately 280 feet from the point of first contact with the ground, scattering fragments along its path, and came to rest on rising terrain, where it was entirely destroyed by fire at a point 2650 feet distant from the west boundary of the Miles City airport, and 1200 feet south of a projection of north boundary of the airport. The crash resulted in the death of all person aboard the aircraft.
Crew:
C. B. Chamberlain, pilot,
R. B. Norby, copilot.
Probable cause:
Although the exact origin and source of the fire is undermined, the condition and location of the emergency-control-box cover, ‘then found, indicates the possibility of Lire at a point of leakage in the cross-feed-fuel system beta is the immediate vicinity of the cross-feed valve, and that such fire could have entered the cockpit prior to crash, through or around the box containing the emergency controls. It was concluded that the probable cause of the accident was a fire in the pilot’s control cabin, resulting in loss of control of the aircraft. Improper location and installation of that portion of the aircraft’s cress-feed fuel system which passed through the fuselage was considered as a contributory factor.
Final Report: