Kalispell - Coeur d'Alene

On July 4, 1987 at 08:05 PM, Kalispell - Coeur d'Alene experienced a crash involving Beechcraft D18, operated by Imitari Athol North Aero, with the event recorded near Lakeside Montana.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

10 people were known to be on board, 10 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 9, passenger fatalities: 9, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot borrowed the aircraft to fly a musical group to Kalispell for a private engagement at Lakeside, MT, which was approximately 15 miles south of the airport. That evening, the group boarded the aircraft for the return flight. After takeoff, the aircraft was seen flying at low altitude in the vicinity of where the musical group had performed. The aircraft was observed at a very low altitude when it entered an abrupt climb, then went into a wingover or hammerhead stall type of maneuver and reversed direction. However, before recovering from the ensuing dive, the aircraft crashed on wooded terrain. Witnesses said the engines appeared to be running normally. A test of the pilot's blood showed a slight amount of alcohol; however, there were indications this was due to putrefaction. All 10 occupants were killed, among them six members of the 'Montana Band' and their manager. Montana Band members were: Curt Bergeron, Clifford Tipton, Allen Larson, Grady Whitfield, Terry Robinson Dale Anderson, Tom Sawan, Band's Manager.

Aircraft reference details include registration N132E, MSN A-4, year of manufacture 1945.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 48.0168°, -114.2369°.