What happened
On the evening of March 12, 1964, a Frontier Airlines aircraft was performing an instrument approach toward the Miles City Airport in Montana. At approximately 20:50 m.s.t., the plane crashed and caught fire during its descent. The accident resulted in the deaths of all five occupants, which included two passengers and three crew members. The impact led to the total destruction of the aircraft.
At the time of the approach, weather conditions were reported at the operational minimums, with a ceiling of 400 feet and visibility limited to one mile. The local environment was characterized by near-freezing temperatures, strong gusty winds, and wet snow.
Findings
An investigation into the crash confirmed that all relevant FAA certifications were valid and that no mechanical failures were present in the aircraft's components. Furthermore, the airport's navigational equipment, specifically the VOR used during the approach, was found to be functioning correctly. The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the descent below obstructing terrain while operating under instrument conditions in poor weather.