plane crash in butte kills 17 mostly kids

[skidoorulz]

News just said plane had 10 seats.2 in the cockpit and 8 passengerseats. Kids were most definatley on laps. Not to bright in my opinion. I'm sure 1 adult had to be in the cockpit with the pilot. They were heading to the Yellowstone club to ski so I am sure all their gear and probably even clothing and other things were at the house there. Yellwostone club is a private resort for Mega millionares. In fact I beilieve the most expensive house in the U.S. is at the yellowstone club. I beleive it was 150 million to build.

 

[JROD]

Sad news for glen helen family:

FELDKAMP FAMILY DEVASTATED BY MONTANA AIR CRASH;
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM

MXA (Motocross Action) has confirmed that the family of Glen Helen Raceway owner Bud Feldkamp was on the Pilatus PC-12 that crashed in Montana over the weekend. Two of Bud's daughters, Vanessa and Amy, and four grandkids were on the plane. As many as nine members of the Feldkamp family may have been lost in the accident. Bud Feldkamp was not on board the plane. Family members said the victims were Erin and Amy Jacobson of St. Helena, Calif., and their children, 4-year-old Taylor; 3-year-old Ava, and 1-year-old Jude; Michael and Vanessa Pullen of Lodi, Calif., and their children, 9-year-old Sydney and 7-year-old Christopher; Brent and Kristen Ching of Durham, Calif., and their children, 5-year-old Heyley and 4-year-old Caleb; and the pilot, Buddy Summerfield.

Amy Jacobson and Vanessa Pullen were Bud Feldkamp's daughters. Vanessa Pullen was a pediatrician, Michael Pullen was a dentist, Erin Jacobson was an opthalmologist and Amy Jacobson was a dental hygienist. Brent Ching was an orthopedic surgeon.

The Associated Press reported today that seven adults and seven children were aboard. There was speculation that the children may have been on a skiing trip.

The flight originated in Redlands, California, and made stops in Vacaville and Oroville in Northern California, according to FlightAware.com, a Web-based aviation tracking system. The plane came down about 500 feet short of the runway in Butte, Montana, nose-diving in Holy Cross Cemetery shortly after 3 p.m. local time.

The original flight plan called for the plane to land in Bozeman, Montana, but the pilot made a last-minute diversion to Butte for unknown reasons, FAA spokesman Les Dorr said. The plane was a Pilatus PC-12, a single-engine, turbo-prop aircraft that is usually configured to carry nine people, he said.


MXA has some experience with the Pilatus PC-12 because Bud gave Jody the plane to fly to the Colorado National two years ago (as a perk for designing the Glen Helen National track). According to Jody, a pilot with over 1000 hours in variety of aerobatic planes, Feldkamp's PC-12 was well maintained and equipped with radar, weather scope and a complete glass cockpit. On the Colorado trip, the plane was configured for eight passengers and Bud's personal pilot, also named Bud (known to everyone as "Air Bud" Summerfield), guided Jody through the intricacies of flying the $3,450,000 Swiss-built turboprop. As fellow pilots, MXA (which has several license pilots on staff) is heartbroken by the loss to the Feldlkamps.

 

[previous member]

Little Cowboy Bar? Or are you thinking of the bar that was owned by Jack Hanna just down the road at Dean?

All I know is that it was in FishTail but I was with this gal that night and she may have made me drink too much

 

[previous member]

FELDKAMP FAMILY DEVASTATED BY MONTANA AIR CRASH;
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM

MXA has confirmed that the family of Glen Helen Raceway owner Bud Feldkamp was on the Pilatus PC-12 that crashed in Montana over the weekend. Two of Bud's daughters, Vanessa and Amy, and four grandkids were on the plane. As many as nine members of the Feldkamp family may have been lost in the accident. Bud Feldkamp was not on board the plane. Family members said the victims were Erin and Amy Jacobson of St. Helena, Calif., and their children, 4-year-old Taylor; 3-year-old Ava, and 1-year-old Jude; Michael and Vanessa Pullen of Lodi, Calif., and their children, 9-year-old Sydney and 7-year-old Christopher; Brent and Kristen Ching of Durham, Calif., and their children, 5-year-old Heyley and 4-year-old Caleb; and the pilot, Buddy Summerfield.

Amy Jacobson and Vanessa Pullen were Bud Feldkamp's daughters. Vanessa Pullen was a pediatrician, Michael Pullen was a dentist, Erin Jacobson was an opthalmologist and Amy Jacobson was a dental hygienist. Brent Ching was an orthopedic surgeon.

The Associated Press reported today that seven adults and seven children were aboard. There was speculation that the children may have been on a skiing trip.

The flight originated in Redlands, California, and made stops in Vacaville and Oroville in Northern California, according to FlightAware.com, a Web-based aviation tracking system. The plane came down about 500 feet short of the runway in Butte, Montana, nose-diving in Holy Cross Cemetery shortly after 3 p.m. local time.

The original flight plan called for the plane to land in Bozeman, Montana, but the pilot made a last-minute diversion to Butte for unknown reasons, FAA spokesman Les Dorr said. The plane was a Pilatus PC-12, a single-engine, turbo-prop aircraft that is usually configured to carry nine people, he said.


MXA has some experience with the Pilatus PC-12 because Bud gave Jody the plane to fly to the Colorado National two years ago (as a perk for designing the Glen Helen National track). According to Jody, a pilot with over 1000 hours in variety of aerobatic planes, Feldkamp's PC-12 was well maintained and equipped with radar, weather scope and a complete glass cockpit. On the Colorado trip, the plane was configured for eight passengers and Bud's personal pilot, also named Bud (known to everyone as "Air Bud" Summerfield), guided Jody through the intricacies of flying the $3,450,000 Swiss-built turboprop. As fellow pilots, MXA (which has several license pilots on staff) is heartbroken by the loss to the Feldlkamps.

This is very very sad and a tragedy for that poor family. No one should have to lose all these family members at once. Very sad indeed.

 

[MPS]

This is very very sad and a tragedy for that poor family. No one should have to lose all these family members at once. Very sad indeed.

 

[previous member]

Dear "disapprove", too bad you don't have the balls and aren't man enough to sign your name to the red rep for my comments on this thread we could possibly discuss it as men but obviously you don't qualify.

 

[RMK7SledHead]

Dear "disapprove", too bad you don't have the balls and aren't man enough to sign your name to the red rep for my comments on this thread we could possibly discuss it as men but obviously you don't qualify.

just an fyi, it wasn't me sending you bad rep.


I still don't think you should be guessing at what happened here, but you can do what you want. I too am glad you never hurt anyone in your 25,000 hours of flying experience. and yes, I know what a 400 hour pilot means...thanks for your insight into my flying abilities.

Lastly I'll say that maybe someday, when I leave the Marine Corps as an aviator, I'll join the ranks of the airline pilot...I doubt it, cause I plan on walking on Mars, but maybe...

have fun with your specu-bashing...

 

[previous member]

just an fyi, it wasn't me sending you bad rep.


I still don't think you should be guessing at what happened here, but you can do what you want. I too am glad you never hurt anyone in your 25,000 hours of flying experience. and yes, I know what a 400 hour pilot means...thanks for your insight into my flying abilities.

Lastly I'll say that maybe someday, when I leave the Marine Corps as an aviator, I'll join the ranks of the airline pilot...I doubt it, cause I plan on walking on Mars, but maybe...

have fun with your specu-bashing...

Rmk7, my guessing is based on a little bit of experience so lets just wait and see what the investigators come up with. I used to fly with a Marine Corps F-18 pilot. The guy was nuts and a very good friend of mine still. I'll tell you about some our flying sometime. If you walk on Mars I will buy you a beer.

When you get more experience you will understand I am not bashing at all. I did not think at all that you were the one that red repped me and I believe if you had you would have been man enough to sign your name to it. I have never known a Marine that didn't have the balls to stand behind what they believe.

My brother was a Marine. You can see his name on the Wall, Stephen Austin. My father was a Marine Colonel and was also in Nam with my brother and I but he and I came home. Look up Stephen's name, it will tell a little about him. He was attempting to take out a sniper that had killed one of his buddies and the sniper won, temporarily.

Just a little advice, listen to those with more experience than you if you ever have the misfortune of being in combat, it might save your life.

 

[previous member]

just an fyi, it wasn't me sending you bad rep.


I still don't think you should be guessing at what happened here, but you can do what you want. I too am glad you never hurt anyone in your 25,000 hours of flying experience. and yes, I know what a 400 hour pilot means...thanks for your insight into my flying abilities.

Lastly I'll say that maybe someday, when I leave the Marine Corps as an aviator, I'll join the ranks of the airline pilot...I doubt it, cause I plan on walking on Mars, but maybe...

have fun with your specu-bashing...

Well RMK7, It really isn't good for a Marine Officer to lie and apparently you have done just that. I was starting to have some respect for you but I guess I will have to re-think that after checking my rep. You did sign it however so I give you credit for that. I am sorry you feel that I am bragging by stating my qualifications. Apparently that makes you feel inferior and rightfully so but it really isn't my fault I have spent a career in flying and you are just a Wannabee. With your attitude I doubt you will get too far in either flying or the military. I copied what you wrote on my rep and here it is.

"I don't agree with your speculation, and I think you're bragging about your experience a bit too much. The 25k+ hour pilots I've flown with never tell you what they've done. One can't move forward by patting themselves on the back. rmk7sledhead"

On Edit, I noticed that at 8:05 pm you state that you were not the one that had given me the red rep and then at 8:08 pm, three minutes later you give me the red rep as I copied and pasted above. I don't mind the red rep at all, it means nothing in the grand scheme of life but I really have my doubts as to your honesty and your ability to be an officer in the United States Marine Corps. You are an obvious LIAR and that just doesn't sit too well with honesty and integrity. I remember two instances in Nam when we got a new 2nd Lt. who both had an attitude like yours and they were both killed by friendly fire that apparently was not so friendly but a necessity to keep others from being killed by new officers who thought they knew more than seasoned veterans. In a combat situation where lives are at stake guys don't have a tolerance for your type. I have no doubt you will make a very pathetic officer and you will in time learn exactly what I am talking about. You are a disgrace to the United States Marine Corps.

 

[revpilot]

Wow, quite a battle raging. Hey, I think I clearly stated that I was speculating about what might have caused the crash, it's discussion and it may be inconclusive anyway- it's the FOULED PLUG part of the forum. BTW I have a box of pilot gear given to me by the widow of a guy with thousands of hours and multiple books on Mountain Flying, he hit a cable stretched across the river to measure water depth. He did everything else right that day. It can happen to anyone!

In defense of the snowman, I think he was asked to prove his credability not list all his foibles, but just to test, I'll ask: Abominable, if you were flying an airplane that might be a little overloaded and under fueled would you A) Continue to a busy towered airport- Bozeman, prepared to declare an emergency and deal with an FAA interogation afterwards or B) Quietly go land on a non towered 9000' runway, get some fuel and arrive in BZN without the drama.

I know, I know, loaded question and you don't have to answer my speculations but I think something emberassing was unfolding 20 minutes out. He could have made BZN in the same amount of time, the weather was better in Bzn, It looks like from the time he asked for a re-route to Butte at 25k feet he was on economy settings getting there- 27 minutes to get not very far. at 1000'/minute descent and 250kt. cruise, I think he could have been down in 20. I could buy the ice theory as cause of crash but not for diverting to Butte- your thoughts?

 

[previous member]

Wow, quite a battle raging. Hey, I think I clearly stated that I was speculating about what might have caused the crash, it's discussion and it may be inconclusive anyway- it's the FOULED PLUG part of the forum. BTW I have a box of pilot gear given to me by the widow of a guy with thousands of hours and multiple books on Mountain Flying, he hit a cable stretched across the river to measure water depth. He did everything else right that day. It can happen to anyone!

In defense of the snowman, I think he was asked to prove his credability not list all his foibles, but just to test, I'll ask: Abominable, if you were flying an airplane that might be a little overloaded and under fueled would you A) Continue to a busy towered airport- Bozeman, prepared to declare an emergency and deal with an FAA interogation afterwards or B) Quietly go land on a non towered 9000' runway, get some fuel and arrive in BZN without the drama.

I know, I know, loaded question and you don't have to answer my speculations but I think something emberassing was unfolding 20 minutes out. He could have made BZN in the same amount of time, the weather was better in Bzn, It looks like from the time he asked for a re-route to Butte at 25k feet he was on economy settings getting there- 27 minutes to get not very far. at 1000'/minute descent and 250kt. cruise, I think he could have been down in 20. I could buy the ice theory as cause of crash but not for diverting to Butte- your thoughts?

RevPilot, I agree with you fully. I have never been to Butte but I used to fly into Bozeman a lot and on up to Missoula where we overnighted and the next morning went back through Bozeman, down to Denver and then to Cleveland. I think he felt he could not make Bozeman and therefore the reason for going to Butte but obviously that did not work. Bozeman by the way is not a busy airport and to be honest I can't remember if it had a tower or not when I was flying in there back in the late 80s and early 90s.

Of course all my comments are merely speculation as I have stated before but I do believe they are based on some experience both as a pilot and an accident investigator for the Airline Pilots Associaton. You are also correct in the fact that the reason I stated my qualifications was simply to show some credibility to my statements and the fact RMK7 stated I did not know what I was talking about etc.

Rev, YOU have a good head on your shoulders and a lot of good common sense about flying. That is what it takes.

 

[montanasledder]

whatever happened its a sad ****ty deal

 

[previous member]

looks to us like your the liar. at 7:05 he posted he didnt red you. then before that at 6.34 you fricken start whining.pull yer head out dude

Are you sure you know where the little hand and the big hand go. LMAO

Bottom line, he said he did not red rep me but he did.

By the way, your immaturity shows, be careful. Isn't it past your bedtime.

I guess you dont' understand time zones. ha ha


Date Comment
plane crash in butte... 03-23-2009 08:08 PM I don't agree with your speculation, and I think you're bragging about your experience a bit too much. The 25k+ hour pilots I've flown with never tell you what they've done. One can't move forward by patting themselves on the back. rmk7sledhead

 

[MPS]

hurry up buddy ive been on here to long today
he posted the no apple at 7,then gave you the apple at 8.and your calling him a liar?
do i have it right?

4 posts in a row saying virtually the same thing....are you special? Oh then you delete two of them....you are special.

....now they are all gone....holy chit.

 

[sledchick]

You weren't kidding about the hotties on the plane!
Another thought, this thread was begun to give condolences to the familes in which they lost 7 children ages 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, plus two 4-year-olds, and 7 adults. I do not doubt your mens' credibility(and thank-God for common sense) but please have respect for the families..I don't want to know what they are going through. I couldn't imagine losing my family that way, or in any other tragic event. Really makes you count your blessings. RIP

 

[revpilot]

A crash invoving kids always makes it harder to load the family next time. My kids hate the plane, they like motorhome trips. Who wouldn't when your 4 and you can can spend 3 times as much time with Dad and you can run around "the house" without the headphones squishing your face. If I ever auger in I hope I'm solo. (or with someone I don't like)

 

[RMK7SledHead]

I guess I needed to clarify the first part of my "it wasn't me sending you bad rep" post. What I should have said was: "It wasn't me sending you bad, UNSIGNED rep." After I made my post, I repped you with exactly what you posted, SIGNED with my handle and everything. I didn't lie one bit, we just didn't have all the facts in the matter...

seems to be a theme in this thread.

btw, I don't think this comment was appropriate:

In a combat situation where lives are at stake guys don't have a tolerance for your type. I have no doubt you will make a very pathetic officer and you will in time learn exactly what I am talking about. You are a disgrace to the United States Marine Corps.

Since you don't know me from Adam, I'd appreciate it if you kept your opinion of me, especially as a Marine, to yourself in the future. You are the one who posted my "private" post to you...I didn't think anyone else on the board needed to see that. Btw, you've got a PM too.

 

[JROD]

?????????????

Seriously?!!!!!

Marines, Pilots, "Experts"........... 14 PEOPLE WERE JUST KILLED IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT!!!!!!!!!!! DO YOU NOT GET THAT?!?! GET OVER THIS KIDDY BULL$HIT and delete your posts that don't contribute to this thread. You people are ridiculous. Listen to yourselves. Forget about your egos for a while. You're the ones who are supposed to act civilized!!!!!!

 

[BowSheet]

I think that the ultimate cause of the crash was gravity.

 

[skidoorulz]

NTSB now leaning towards icing and not pilot error or that the plane may have been overloaded.