Incident Overview
On September 10, 1987, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the U.S. Army contacted Black Hills Aviation to request aerial fire suppression for a fire started by a FAADS missile, which had been fired more than two hours earlier. In response, Black Hills dispatched a P2V aircraft, designated Forest Service Number N96271 (Tanker 07), owned by the company. The aircraft was piloted by Nathan Kolb, with Woodard Miller serving as co-pilot; both were employees of Black Hills Aviation and were not Department of Defense personnel.
Flight and Crash
Tanker 07 obtained authorization to enter the missile range's airspace from the missile range air controller. During the flight, the aircraft crashed on the missile range. The crash site was located approximately fifteen miles into the interior of the range, within the testing site for the FAADS Project. Both pilots were killed in the crash.
Post-Crash Procedures
Following the crash, an attorney from the Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Office at the missile range ordered markers to be placed at the crash site, and aerial photographs were taken. At that time, the Army JAG Officer anticipated litigation regarding the crash. Personnel at the missile range contacted the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Army Safety Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, to inquire whether either entity wished to investigate the crash. The NTSB replied that it was not interested but would investigate if specifically requested by the missile range. Ultimately, neither entity conducted an investigation.
Investigation
Colonel Gary Epperson of the missile range was appointed to conduct an Army Regulation 15-6 Collateral Investigation into the facts and circumstances of the crash. The scope of this investigation was limited to the activities of the Army regarding the crash and did not seek to determine the precise cause. Colonel Epperson's investigation consisted of viewing the crash scene, meeting with eyewitnesses, and asking for written statements. No probable cause was determined.