By Kim Skornogoski
Great Falls Tribune
Copyright 2008 Great Falls Tribune
BELGRADE, Mont. — Nearly a year after a Benefis Mercy Flight plane crashed into a mountain northwest of Belgrade, killing the pilot, paramedic and nurse onboard, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a report of its investigation Thursday.
The report details what investigators learned about the crash by examining the wreckage, the plane’s maintenance record, weather conditions and communications between the pilot and air traffic controllers, but it does not name a cause.
Dennis Hogenson, who is in charge of the NTSB investigation, said an analysis and probable cause report will be released late next week.
On Feb. 6, 2007, pilot Vince Kirol, 59, and two crewmembers, flight nurse Darcy Dengel, 27, and paramedic Paul Erickson, 33, were headed to Bozeman aboard the Benefis Healthcare Mercy Flight Beech 200 King Air fixed-wing plane to pick up a patient.
Minutes after 9 p.m., the plane struck a tree about 80 feet below a ridgeline, which at 5,700 feet was the highest obstruction between the accident site and the Gallatin County Airport 13 miles away.