The helicopter crash on Wednesday evening near Ekalaka, southeast Montana, tragically resulted in four deaths, marking one of six fatal general aviation incidents in Montana this year. Montana’s small aircraft crash rate ranks third nationally, following Alaska and Wyoming, according to an MTFP analysis of National Transportation Safety Board data. Interestingly, the number of small aircraft crashes in Montana has fallen compared to the same period last year.
The Robinson R66 helicopter crash, piloted by Zachary Bailey, led to the deaths of Bailey, his spouse Kelsey, and their children, Vada Rose, 12, and Samuel, 7. Zachary Bailey was the son of Darren Bailey, a Republican gubernatorial candidate from Illinois. Several small aircraft incidents have made headlines in Montana this year, including an October 17 plane crash in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, killing three. In August, a landing attempt at Kalispell City Airport caused a plane to hit parked aircraft and ignite, though occupants survived. A July incident at Ryan’s Field killed two men. June saw a crash killing John Ostlund, a Yellowstone County Commissioner.
General aviation, which excludes scheduled commercial flights and military operations, is notably riskier than commercial airline travel. The NTSB recorded 307 fatalities in 2023 over approximately 25,000 general aviation flight hours. In stark contrast, 6.2 million commercial flight hours in the U.S. had no fatal accidents that year.
Montana boasts 1,493 licensed private pilots, amounting to 138 pilots per capita, trailing only Alaska. In Alaska, 82% of communities lack road connections, making small planes essential for routine transport.
From 2012 to 2021, Montana had 2.5 fatal aviation crashes per 100,000 residents, with only Alaska (9.0) and Wyoming (3.5) surpassing this. Other Western states with similar rural landscapes, like Idaho, New Mexico, and Utah, also rank high. The NTSB has recorded 21 general aviation crashes in Montana this year, with six fatalities, a decrease from last year’s 36 incidents with nine fatal crashes.
When crashes occur, the NTSB investigates to determine causes and events. A preliminary report is usually released within a month, with a final report including safety recommendations published 12-24 months later. Due to a government shutdown, both the FAA and NTSB were unavailable for comments on recent accidents and safety trends.
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