ROCKY CRANE 1959 - 1967 PILOT PHX DEN There were three fatal aircraft accidents in the history of Frontier. Only one (Miles City, March 1964) involved passengers with the loss of two of which one OR BOTH were non-revenue. The BOTH being controversial between investigators and the official record). The captain was Kenny Huber, the f/o was Dan Gough in N-51422. The second crash was 12-21-67 in DEN. The captain of N-65276 was Rocky Crane, the f/o was Rick Cochran. Rick was the twin brother of Captain Dick Cochran who retired as a senior MD-80 captain. Dick lives in DEN. They were the son's of a pioneer pilot who was involved with Lowry AFB in its early years. He was also a pioneer aerial photographer. I have several of his photos showing a lot of early Curtiss fighters, and various other aircraft like the Sikorski S-38, Fokker F-3, Stout predecessor of the Ford Tri-Motor and even a dirgible. Losing Rick was tough on that family! The third accident was the DHC-6-300 (N-982FL in PUB). -Billy Walker (1/23/99) I uploaded a shot I have of N-65276 in front of the PHX terminal. I should mention that I referred to it as "Suicidal" as it had been involved in THREE accidents at its demise December 21, 1967. The first time it crashed was in SLC as a Challenger airplane with Bill McChrystal as captain and EP Lietz as the f/o. They were on an emergency approach with a medical trauma in progress. The weather was lousy and as they landed the wind changed and it was a slick runway. They ran off the end and hit a car. The only injury was a lady in the car. Later, Dale Welling knocked 12 feet of the left wing off on a hill north of PHX when he was skud running inbound from Prescott (PRC). The last was when Rocky Crane and Rick Cochran were killed and the aircraft destroyed on take-off December 21, 1967. The seats had been removed to use the aircraft to relieve a heavy back up of cargo. FAL was not approved for this. It was a blustry day and someone improperly installed a rudder lock on the elevator (allowing some control movement). Then on lift off, a heavy 55 gallon drum of paint broke loose and headed for the tail end. The change of center of gravity coupled with the loss of full elevator control prevented the rew from saving the airplane. They had, apprarently, quickly, relized this as they repositioned the trim in the opposite of normal trim to get the nose of the aircraft down. Alais, it was not enough. The airplane stalled, crashed and burned. -Billy Walker (1/23/99) The DC-3 crash in Denver, I believe it was in 1967 around Christmas. It killed 2 good friends of mine. I knew Rick Cochran and his brother Dick (training dept) very well, and Rocky Crane fairly well. That was a very sad day. I was gassing up my car at the Chevron station in front of the then Stapleton and saw the cloud of black smoke rising. I thought...hummm that doesn't look good and went about my business. A short time later, I heard what had happened and to whom. Words did'Nt do justice to what everyone felt. -Carol Pickett-Stillman 5/12/99 OBITUARIES THE DENVER POST Sunday, Dec. 24, 1967 Farris A. Crane Ricardo Cochran Services will be held in Stillwater, Okla., and in Denver for the pilot and copilot of a Frontier Airlines cargo plane that crashed and burned on takeoff from Stapleton International Airport Thursday. Memorial services were held Saturday for the pilot, Capt. Farris A. (Rocky) Crane, 34, at Olinger Mortuary, E. Colfax Ave. and Magnolia St. The Rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Strode Funeral Home in Stillwater, and Requiem Mass will be sung at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Xavier's Catholic Church there. Burial will be in Stillwater. Services for the copilot, First Officer Ricardo (Rick) Cochran, 33, who also died in the crash, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Olinger Mortuary, E. Colfax Ave. and Magnolia St. Burial will be in Fairmount, with rites by the William W. Cooper Lodge No. 172, AF&AM. Crane, 2341 Iola St., Aurora, was born July 7, 1933, in Sulphur, Okla., and educated in Oklahoma City and Phoenix, Ariz., schools. He attended Oklahoma State University and served in the Army from 1953-55. He operated a Cessna agency and was a private pilot for the Big Ben Ranch Corp., Midland, Tex., before joining Frontier 8 and a half years ago. He was a Phoenix, Ariz., resident from 1959-66 and served as an Arizona state legislator from 1961-63. He was a Democrat. Crane served as pilots' representative in the Central Airlines-Frontier Airlines merger talks. The two airlines merged last Sept. 30. Crane is survived by his widow, the former Billie Karen Todd, whom he married in 1952 in Stillwater, Okla.; two sons, James and William, his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe E. Kirk, Tempe, Ariz.; his grandmother, Mrs. Maud Harless, Oklahoma City, and four sisters, Mrs. Judy Crum, Orange, Calif., Mrs. Joan Hancock, Mesa, Ariz., Mrs. Catherine Hamm, Ardmore, Okla., and Mrs. Patricia Manning, Oklahoma City. Cochran, 3182 Troy St., Aurora, was born June 28, 1934, in Champaign, Ill., and was educated in Aurora schools. He attended the University of Colorado. He was a bail bondsman, in the insurance business and a partner in the Rocky Mountain Dragway, near the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, before joining Frontier in March 1965. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a director of the Club Air flying club and a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Survivors include his widow, the former Marilyn Blixt of Denver whom he married in 1952; a son, Steven; a daughter, Sherrie Lynne; his father, Lehr Cochran, Aurora; six brothers, Richard, Ronald, Randolph, Roger, Raymond and Ralph, Denver, and a sister, Mrs. Rita Popenhagen, Denver. Friends who wish may make contributions to Sewall Rehabilitation Center, 1360 Vine St. -Sent by Ken Schultz (5/20/00) Here is a couple of photos that I found. The Large photo is of AB Kendell and Rocky Crane in China not long before he was killed. The small photo is Capt. Wayne Aspinall, they are not the best photos, but they are all I have, -Al Kendell (1/12/01) Thanks for the pix. What were the circumstances of yall being in China? Where in China? Do you have any info on Ron Litton's death? I have hardly anything. -Jake Lamkins (1/14/01) Man, you sure ask a lot of questions, don't you know that I am not noted for my communication skills, anyway, in regard to Capt. Ron Litton, the fellow with him is Capt. Jimmy Freeman of Frontier Airlines, the airplane is a Evangel, Built by the Evangel Corp. in Iowa, specifically for Wycliff Bible Translators. The two pilots are takeing the airplane to Loma Linda, Columbia. In regard to the China photo, Rocky and I are in Sheung Shui in the New Territories, We are there talking to Air America about a job. Rocky is the one with a white shirt on and I am the one with a dark shirt. Thanks, Keep up the good work. -Al Kendell (1/15/01) My saddest memory was in early 1968 when, on a mezzanine (in hangar 5), I encountered the personal travel bags, briefcases and goods from the 2 DC3 pilots who died during that mail run crash in DEN in December, 1967. Guess the goods were being held for family. -Darren Weeks, Inventory Control (4/9/04) I wonder if you remember Rocky Crane? He was killed in the DC3 crash at Stapleton in '67. If so, I'm trying to find his widow, Karen. I last heard about her in OK, but that was many years ago. It may be impossible to find her, but I thought maybe someone might have a clue. I enjoy the group website and appreciate all the work everyone puts forth to keep it alive. -Walker Ross (3/11/06) I knew Rocky Crane and he was the best, I never met his wife but Mother's last name was Kirk. Years ago she was the Dean of Women at Mesa Community College. One of the halls or departments are named after her. I think she may be dead. Maybe if you contacted Mesa Community College ( the main office) they might be able to give you some info. That's all I can give. Hope it helps some. -Ginger Ann Treptow Fal 1957 to 1986 (3/12/06) I Remember Rocky (Crane) from PHX. -Lou Sylvestri (7/17/10) Was interested in your stories of the accidents, especially since I worked Dale and Burt's outgoing flight. Also knew Rocky Crane quite well . We were friends when he was based in PHX. Even campaigned for him when he ran for and won a seat in the AZ legislature. His accident was just a stupid pilot error. -Ira Kemp (11/4/10) I am one of probably few eyewitnesses to the fatal crash of this aircraft in 1967. I was working for Aspen Airways and was standing next to one of our DC3s when the sound of firewalled engines got my attention. When I looked up and saw the aircraft it was in an extreme nose up condition. It then seemed to fall off on the left wing and went nose down to the ground. A big fireball erupted and then fire blocked out the scene. That's how I remember it anyway, eyewitness accounts don't seem to be always accurate. Over the years I had a couple of occasions to ride ACM with Dick Cochran and it was always a pleasurable trip. -Bob Baxter (12/19/10) I flew out of Denver one night (12-21-1967) and the flight behind of us was a DC3 with cargo that wasn't tied down properly crashed. They both died. It was very said we loved all our guys. I believe one was Rick - I can still see them - we were all friends. Does anyone remember them? (Rick Cochran and Rocky Crane) Their faces are ingrained in my brain. I love those guys. It was tough to continue that trip. The captain of the turn around I was flying was Ricks's best friend. Two wonderful, kind and delightful humans, lost their lives through negligence. -Anita DiMarcella Gunderson (8/17/13) Rocky Crane was a teddy bear.. Loved all of us respectfully. Always had a warm smile for all ! He was a dream boat of a guy. Kind and loving and fun ! I was flying with Rocky's best friend - he was our Captain. I had just talked to Rocky and Rick - two of my favorite people. They both were kind, gentle and always had a smile to share. They took off right behind us. To continue our trip was much more painful than I can express. -Anita DiMarcella Gunderson (11/25/18) F A CRANE PHX co-pilot DOB 7/7/33 DOH 5/16/59 Notation says Rocky per the Feb 1960 Frontier employee roster. F A CRANE Pilot seniority date of 5/1/59 per the Oct 1967 pilots seniority list. I do not know why his DOH and seniority dates do not match. -Jake Lamkins (12/4/18) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Rocky Crane PHX DEN pilot Rocky Crane's memorial wbpage has been updated at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Rocky_Crane.html Several items added and the page overhauled. Rocky flew west on Dec 21, 1967 in the FL DC3 crash at DEN. -Jake Lamkins (12/5/18) He was a great guy; this accident was due to a rudder control lock that was left on! -Denford Finke (12/5/18) He was "special" and always had a smile. A terrible loss. -Ginger Treptow (12/5/18) He was a handsome , fun guy! Miss you Rocky! -Bonnie Dahl (12/6/18) I witnessed that accident. It was something you can't unsee. -Bob Baxter (12/6/18)