The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-08-24
Brother OF
Libby Man Is
KilledinCraSh
Vic Riley and Wife Meet
Death in Airplane
Accident.

WERE MARRIED HERE
FEW WEEKS AGO
Mr.. and Mrs. Vic Riley Of Kalispell
were killed in an airplane crash Mon
day night at Great Falls, as was also
the aviator, Frank Buck, of Kalispell
The fatal accident happened when the
pilot attempted to land during rain
storm, at night, and with the light poor,
and struck high-power wire.
Mr. and Mrs Riley were married a
few weeks ago In Libby at the home
Of Mr.. Riley's brother, Mr.. Jean Riley.
The two men were associated in the
creamery business, with plants at Kali
ispell and Libby. Mr.. Vic Riley had
visited Libby repeatedly on business
matters and to visit his brother, was
well known here and was held In the
highest esteem.
E. B. Riley, brother, arrived In LIB
by yesterday from Yakima, Wash, and
today he and Mrs. Jean Riley and Miss
Laura Riley drove to Kalispell to at
tend the funeral, which is to be held
there today. Jean Riley has been in
KaliSpeN since the accident
The Great Falls Tribune had the fol-
lowing account of the accident.
Three persons were killed Monday
night when an airplane piloted by Fred
Buck of Kalispell, crashed on Gore
hill about $50 feet northeast of the
hangar at the municipal airport. The
pilot and Mrs Victor Riley, also of
Kalispell, were killed almost instantly,
and Victor Riley, the second passenger,
died two hours later at the Columbus
hospital.
The crash occurred about $50 when
Buck was circling the airport in an
effort to land While making turn
the right wing of the four-place cabin
plane hooked ON power line throwing
the ship into half roll 1t nosed into
the ground about so yards from the
power line, completely wrecked
Eyewitnesses were of the opinion that
the pilot became confused on account
Of the rain when circling for land
ing. Gasok.1r torch tights had been
placed at two points on the hill, one
showing the airport hill slope and the
other the landing area. Lights of two
automobiles were thrown over the field
in the correct direction for landing. The ,
single light on the airport also was di-
rected on the field.
Raining Here
The airplane reached Great Falls |
around p. m. and circled the city sew
eral times. 1t was apparent to several
who watched the plane that the pilot
was attempting to locate the airport
Rain was falling at the time, making
low ceiling for flying.
Mrs. Buck was in Great Falls await
ing the arrival of her husband and his
two passengers
Earl Vance, Great Falls pilot with
many years experience, who now is a
pilot for the National Parks anyways,
said he heard the plane flying over
town and suggested to w. G. Ferguson,
traffic manager for National Parks, that
they 60 to the field to give any needed
assistance in the landing Of the plane.
Mr.. Vance said he became apprehensive
when he failed to see landing lights
show on the plane. As the municipal
airport is not equipped for night flying,
flares have to be placed and these may
be augmented by motor car lights in
emergencies.
Before Mr.. Vance and Mr.. Fergu-
son could reach the field the Buck
plane crashed They found that Gene
Schacher, airport manager, had made
all possible emergency arrangements.
MIR. Schacher had placed two gasoline
torches and had the lights of two motor !
cars turned on the field in the direc- !
ton the plane should land. One Of the ;
flares was SO placed as to reveal the /
sharp slope of the hill below the NUM- ,
cipal airport i
Lands ON Nose
AS Mr.. Vance reconstructed the
the municipal field from the east and !
as he neared the field banked and
struck power line, severing part of
the right wing. The impact threw the !
plane upside down and it hit squarely
on its nose. The engine was torn from
its mountings and forced back into |
the pilots compartment. 9
Mrs. Riley was dead when, rescuers &
reached her. Buck died before he could I
be started to hospital Riley was un- a
conscious when taken to the hospital Q
The investigation by Mr.. Ferguson ]
and Mr.. Vance revealed that Buck tele- s
graphed from Kalispell that he was $
leaving about 6:15 p. m. and to have S
a light on the field to land by. There $
lore, he was aware of the fact it would :
be dark when he arrived Flying time h
Tor ships of the Buck type from Kali s
spell to Great Falls should average b
about an hour and three-quarters in v
good weather, Mr.. Vance said The u
showed there were no a
anding lights on the plane $
Thus, the Investigation revealed that Fl
he Kalispell pilot was attempting to ic
and on field not equipped for night 0
lying with plane not equipped with, h
anding lights. Department Of commerce v
regulations specify planes flying at b
hight must be equipped with landing E
lights. i.
Prominent in Kalispell a