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It looks like Orin Riddell's (former Lancair factory pilot) IV crashed
yesterday. -don't know if he still owned it or who was flying. Does
anyone have more details.
Chris Zavatson
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Plane crash claims life of pilot
11/06/02
By JACOB GOLDSTEIN Chronicle Staff Writer
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A small airplane lost power and crashed Tuesday near Gallatin Field,
killing the only person on board.
Officials did not release the identity of the pilot Tuesday.
Airport Director Ted Mathis said the victim probably was not a local
man.
The plane went down at about 4:30 p.m. in a wheat field near Frontage
Road, about three miles southeast of the airport.
Dale Maroney, a contractor who was working on a house about 100 yards
away from the crash site, saw the plane coming in low over the field.
He said the craft, which seemed to be flying without power, turned
upside down before crashing into the ground. It exploded on impact,
sending up flames and black smoke.
The pilot was in contact with the airport tower just before the
disaster occurred.
"He said that he was experiencing power failure," Mathis said. "The
tower asked him ... if he was going to declare an emergency. He said 'I
don't know.'"
Moments later, air traffic controllers saw smoke rising from the
explosion.
The plane's electronic flight plan showed the plane approaching Bozeman
from Billings. Mathis did not know whether the craft had taken off from
Billings or merely flown over the airport there.
The aircraft was identified as a Lancair IV, a single-engine plane sold
as a kit and assembled by the buyer.
Coroner Duncan MacNab said the crash would be investigated by the
Federal Aviation Administration.
Jacob Goldstein is at jgoldstein@dailychronicle.com
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N-number : N41RJ
Aircraft Serial Number : LIV-443
Aircraft Manufacturer : RIDDELL ORIN
Model : LIV-P
Engine Manufacturer : AMA/EXPR
Model : UNKNOWN ENG
Aircraft Year : 2002
Owner Name : SALE REPORTED
Owner Address : 208 1/2 SECOND ST
HOOD RIVER, OR, 97031
Registration Date : Not Specified
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Experimental
Approved Operations : Amateur Built
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IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 41RJ Make/Model: LNC4 Description: LIV-P EXP
Date: 11/05/2002 Time: 2333
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N
Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: BOZEMAN State: MT Country: US
DESCRIPTION
ACFT REPORTED LOSS OF POWER AND CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES,
1 POB
SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES, ACFT WAS DESTROYED, BOZEMAN, MT
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0
Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0
Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0
Unk:
WEATHER: 052341Z 00000KT 10SM FEW095 02/M04 A3013 RMK A02
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: General
Aviation
Departed: MINNEAPOLIS, MN Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: BOZEMAN, MT Flt Plan: IFR Wx
Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: 4 NM SE BZN ARPT
Last Clearance: BZN TOWER MAKE A STRAIGHT IN APRCH RWY 30 RPT 5 MI
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