Preliminary Report: Cargo Beech 99 down in mountains

Beech 99, Butte, Mont., March 18, 2006–The ATP pilot and commercial copilot were killed when the Ameriflight Beech 99 cargo flight crashed into trees in mountainous terrain approximately seven nm southwest of Butte. A National Weather Service weather spotter about one mile from the accident site said a weather front had been approaching the area and reported icing conditions followed by heavy snow, poor visibility and variable winds in the mountains surrounding the accident site. The airplane had been cleared for the VOR approach to Butte.