Overview
On a scheduled flight from Helena Airport to Cut Bank, a Montana Air National Guard aircraft crashed in Wolf Creek Canyon, approximately 25 miles north of Helena. The aircraft was destroyed, and all six individuals on board were killed.
Crew and Passengers
The crew consisted of Major Clifford Hanson (pilot), Major Joseph Devine (copilot), and Master Sergeant Charles Ballard (mechanic). The passengers were Montana Governor Donald Grant Nutter, his executive secretary Dennis Gordon, and the state's commissioner of agriculture Edward Wren. They were en route to a speaking engagement.
Circumstances
Weather conditions deteriorated during the flight, with the crew encountering heavy winds and snowfall. Control of the aircraft was lost, leading to the crash.
Probable Cause
Official findings stated that winds exceeding 100 mph sheared off one of the aircraft's wings, causing it to crash in Wolf Creek Canyon.