King Air Hits Ridge, Three Killed

Three people were killed when their King Air 200 crashed on approach to Gallatin Field Airport (elevation 4,474 feet) in Bozeman, Mont., on February 6. The aircraft, owned by Metro Aviation of Shreveport, La., and operated by Benefits Healthcare/Mercy Flight of Great Falls, Mont., hit a 5,700-foot ridge about 100 feet below the summit. According to the NTSB preliminary report, night VMC prevailed and the pilot had requested a visual approach to Runway 12 before contact with the tower was lost. Aircraft wreckage was found approximately 13 miles northwest of the airport. The glideslope intercept altitude for the ILS to Runway 12 is 6,779 feet 7.6 miles from the runway.