Departure and In-Flight Events
The flight originated from Laramie at approximately 1600 with a full fuel load. At 1840, the pilot contacted Billings Tower and reported that the low fuel warning indicator had illuminated. In a subsequent radio transmission a few minutes later, the pilot stated that the aircraft was going down.
Witness Observation
A witness observed the aircraft descending at a steep angle, describing the descent as "real hard." The crash site was located approximately 4.5 miles southeast of the Billings airport.
Fuel Information
The aircraft has a usable fuel capacity of 74.97 gallons. Its average fuel consumption rate is between 24 and 26 gallons per hour.