Four Killed in Helicopter Crash Near Ekalaka, Montana
HELENA, Mont. — A helicopter crash on Wednesday evening near Ekalaka claimed the lives of four individuals, according to local authorities. This incident was one of six fatal aviation accidents in Montana this year.
The crash involved a Robinson R66 helicopter, piloted by Zachary Bailey, who was accompanied by his wife, Kelsey, and their children, Vada Rose, 12, and Samuel, 7. Zachary was the son of Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey.
Montana has one of the highest small aircraft crash rates per capita in the nation, ranked third behind Alaska and Wyoming, according to analysis by the MTFP. However, the total number of small aircraft accidents in the state this year is down compared to 2024.
In related incidents, a plane crash in the Bob Marshall Wilderness on October 17 killed three people, and a plane accident in Kalispell in August resulted in a fire, although all occupants escaped unharmed.
General aviation remains significantly less safe than commercial airline travel, with 307 fatalities recorded in 2023 over approximately 25 million flight hours, while commercial aviation reported no fatal accidents during 6.2 million flight hours.
As of now, the NTSB has recorded 21 general aviation crashes in Montana this year, six of which were fatal. Investigations into these accidents are conducted to ascertain the causes, followed by preliminary reports released within a month.
For further information, authorities indicated that inquiries regarding the incident were not being responded to due to a government shutdown.
Contact: Jacob Olness, email