What happened
A mission operated by the Montana Air National Guard departed from Helena Airport, destined for Cut Bank. The aircraft was transporting a crew of three alongside three passengers, including high-ranking state officials traveling to a scheduled speaking event. During the flight, the weather conditions deteriorated significantly, characterized by heavy snowfall and intense wind speeds.
As the flight progressed, the aircraft encountered extreme turbulence and lost controllability. This led to a crash in the Wolf Creek Canyon area, situated approximately 25 miles north of Helena. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused six fatalities, with no survivors among the crew or passengers.
Findings
Investigation into the accident determined that the primary factor was extreme weather. Specifically, wind speeds reaching over 100 mph sheared a wing from the aircraft, which directly led to the loss of control and subsequent impact in the canyon.