A pilot has been killed after the crash of a vintage plane.
On June 27, 2023, at about 0810 local time, a Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, registered to Rare Birds Montana LLC, N4420K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ravelli County Airport (HRF/KHRF), Hamilton, Montana.
The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The personal flight originated from KHRF, and was destined to Minneapolis.
According to a company that the pilot owned, the airplane “suffered a mechanical failure on takeoff” and crashed.
The airplane came to rest in a wooded field east of the departure airport. The airplane was partially consumed by the post crash fire, which was restricted to the cockpit and engine areas.
Both wings and tail remained attached to the airframe. The elevators were damaged during the impact sequence.
The accident airplane was one of 14 remaining P-40s in the US.