GAYLE BUSSINGER 1959 - 1964 STATION AGENT ANW STK MLS I have reviewed the obituary lists on the Frontier Web Site and am amazed and shocked at the number of employees listed which I knew and many that I had the privilege to work with, however, there are two individuals that doesn't seem to be listed. I helped train Gayle Bussinger when he first started working for Frontier and I believe he was the non-rev passenger on flight 32 that crashed at MLS. The second is James (Jim) Smith. He was an agent at RIW and PUB then became station manager at MCK when Frontier started service into Nebraska. At the time of Jim's death he was working in MCK as a dispatcher for the Nebraska highway patrol, but I can't provide you with the date he passed on. -Bob White (11/17/01) I got a note from longtime BIL agent Gene Martin. He was at MLS when FL 32 crashed. -------------------------------------------------------- An event I will never forget is the crash of DC3 flight 32 at Miles City, MT. on March 12, 1964. I was Station Manager and working that evening. My agent Gayle Bussinger was on board flight 32 returning from Billings. The time of the crash was at 8:50PM or very close to that and the site was about 1 1/2 miles from the runway. The area consisted of rolling hills and ground transportation was difficult therefore the crash site was not found until around midnight. My last contact with Flight 32 was at 8:47PM after giving him a local traffic check and since the wind was blowing 20 gust to 30 knots I asked him if he wanted the rudder lock on the runway and replied "Yes", which was acknowledge at 8:47PM. I then got prepared to take the rudder lock out to meet the fight. A light snow shower was passing through the area at this time. After waiting for about 5 minutes I got out of my car and went back into the station to determine where he was because he should have been on the ground by now. I could not get an answer from him on the radio and the Flight Service Station was not getting a response either. I then initiated an "overdue flight" emergency procedure. I was kept on the phone until the aircraft was located which was around midnight. After the wreckage was spotted I notified the local sheriffs to secure the area until the investigators arrive. A DC3 with company officials, FAA and CAB investigators arrived Miles City around 3:30AM. Elton Snoke and Carl Foster arrived on this flight. After my first flight out that morning they advised me to go home and get some rest. I did but after several phone calls I decide to go back to the airport. Moe Osborne was relief agent in our area so he was brought in to help. Red Barringer, on station leave at this time, accepted to return to work. Getting an experienced agent was very much appreciated. The tail section bearing the number N61442 was the only recognizable piece of the aircraft at its final resting place. The right wing was on a hill side about ΒΌ mile west. Probable cause, per the CAB was "The descent below obstructing terrain, for reasons undeterminable, during an instrument approach in adverse weather conditions. May they rest in peace. -Gene Martin (2/7/02) I found your account of the MLS accident very interesting. Tex Searle sent me a copy of the CAB accident report. It says there were five people on board. Was that fifth person a non-rev or revenue passenger? Would you by chance have a clipping or something with their name? Any other info you can share about this tragedy would be appreciated. The FO was Dan Gough - his son who was born several months after the crash has been in touch with me. I'll send him your info. I also plan to use it in the NEWS. Thanks again, -Jake Lamkins (2/7/02) Besides Gayle three other FL employees died in the crash: Capt. Kenneth Huber, FO Daniel Gough and flight attendant Dorothy Ruth Reif. According to the CAB Aircraft Accident Report released 3/11/65, there were five people on board. The fifth person most likely was a revenue passenger (if so, the only one ever killed on FL) but I haven't been able to make a positive ID. I'll be checking with Gene to see if he knows. -Jake Lamkins (2/7/02) Regarding the fifth passenger on board, he was a Henry Swenson from Columbus, North Dakota, a small town near Williston, N.D. I have a newspaper clipping that I will run a copy off and send it to you, will have to be next week sometime but I will get it done. -Gene Martin (2/8/02) Even though I was with Frontier for several years (from 1958 through 1964), I wasn't aware of the stellar safety record. The MLS accident occurred two weeks before I left Frontier. I remember hearing through the grapevine that during interviews by investigators following the accident, a rancher who heard the crash was unable to open the door of his truck when he went to investigate due to the build up of ice on the doors. -Steve Horton (2/12/04) After seeing Gayle Bussinger's name appear in the last two news letters, I thought I would like to get the information you have on the MLS accident. I was in MLS when the accident occurred, and went to the crash site the next day. I have a few slides of the wreckage, and think it is time for me to get those out and try to get them on a CD. I have no idea how to go about doing that, but think I can find someone here that can give me some help. After 40 years I am not sure how bright and detailed the slides are, but if I can get them to a CD, let me know via e-mail if you would like a copy to share. I can give a fair description of how the event of the accident happened, and will include that if I can get a good copy of what I have. For your information, I started with FL in July 1956 in RIW, then to CYS and on to MLS. There was a manager and an agent in each of the cities in Montana, then in 1962 a decision was made to only have a manager in each city and a relief agent to cover days off for two cities. I did not have enough seniority to get the relief job between MLS and GDV and the only stations with openings were in GTF or HVR, so I jumped the gun and resigned and went into business in MLS. Within about a year, each city went back to having a manager and one agent. When the MLS accident happened and took the life of Gayle Bussinger, who was the MLS agent, I went back to work in MLS for Gene Martin exactly 2 years to the day that I resigned. Gayle had returned a rental car to BIL, and was going home, something that most of us used to do to earn a little extra money. -Red Barringer (7/23/04) Gayle Bussinger was the MLS station agent killed in the 3/12/64 DC3 crash at MLS. He was coming back from taking a rent-a-car to BIL. He was 27 and his wife was waiting for him at the terminal. Gayle started working for FL 7/25/59. -Jake Lamkins (6/20/07) G R BUSSINGER Seniority date of 7/25/59 on the 3/1/62 FL/ALEA seniority list. -Jake Lamkins (6/20/07) Posted at FLacebook and the FL Club: MLS station agent Gayle Bussinger's memorial website has been updated. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Gayle_Bussinger.html Six items added including an accident report. Gayle died in the crash of FL 32 on Mar 12, 1964. -Jake Lamkins (11/25/12)