Landing Gear Wheel May Have Snagged Power Line

A Cessna 170 went down about 18 miles southeast of Bozeman, MT, Sunday, and Federal Aviation Administration officials report two men from Idaho and a California teen on board managed to escape life-threatening injury.

Pilot Don Beal, 67; his son, Harlan Beal, 43; and Ashley Beal, 17, all made it through the accident without serious injury, although the elder Beal lost several teeth and required jaw surgery. They are recovering in a local hospital, according to the Associated Press.

The group had taken off from a Livingston airport for a pleasure ride. Witnesses report seeing the aircraft (type shown above) heading up a wide valley and banking sharply before impacting some trees in what looked like an attempt to avoid some power lines, according to KBZK News.

The elder Beal's girlfriend, Cynde Groat told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle he told her the airplane's wheel snagged a power line.

"Don is a really good pilot," said Groat. "He's been flying forever."

According to the Twin Falls Times News, Don Beal was listed in fair condition, while his son and granddaughter were listed in good condition.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 1316D        Make/Model: C170      Description:
  Date: 06/24/2007     Time: 1800

  Event Type: Incident   Highest Injury: Minor     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: BOZEMAN   State: MT   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, PARK COUNTY, 18 MILES FROM
  BOZEMAN, MT

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   1     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   2     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   2     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: VFR

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Pleasure      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: HELENA, MT  (NM05)                    Entry date: 06/25/2007

FMI: www.faa.gov