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about the possiblity of squalls in the Miles City area and that the ceiling and visibility would be somewhat less than indicated on the Miles City 24-hour terminal forecast starting at 1600, March 12. Specific figures were not given. This forecast was in part as follows: 1800 to 2100, "Pacific frontal passage, ceiling 2,000 feet overcast, visibility 3 miles, light snow, wind 300 degrees 20 knots with gusts, occasional visibility 1 mile, light snow."
FAL's agent at Billings filed a flight plan for Flight 32 with the Great Falls Air Route Traffic Control Center (GTF ARTCC) about 1920. It was "Frontier 32, DC-3, filed airspeed 150, proposed off Billings at 0255[1] requesting 7000 Billings Victor 2 to Miles City."
A Dispatch Release for the flight was received from FAL's Denver, Colorado Dispatch Office about 1920. At about 1955 Flight 32 received its Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) clearance from the Billings Tower. It was read back correctly by the flight as "ATC clears Frontier Airlines Flight 32 to the Miles City VOR via Victor 2, maintain 7000."
Flight 32 departed Billings at 2001. The captain occupied the left east, the first officer the right. The aircraft's gross weight was 23,275 pounds, well under the allowable, and its center of gravity was located within prescribed limits. At 2003 the flight reported to Billings Tower on course and, at 2004, leaving 6,000 feet.
At 2006 Billings Tower asked the flight if it was an estimated 13 miles northeast of Billings and the flight replied that it was over Huntley (a community 10 miles northeast of Billings). At this time the flight was instructed to contact GTF ARTCC. It did so, at 2007, verifying its altitude of 7,000 feet and estimating the Miles City VOR at 2042. GTF ARTCC acknowledged and asked the flight if it was established on Victor 2. The flight replied affirmatively.
At 2019, the Miles City Flight Service Station (MLS FSS) called GTF ARTCC and provided the 2005 surface weather observation for MLS. This was a special observation and the following data were provided: Measured ceiling 1,000 feet overcast, visibility four miles, light snow showers, wind 290 degrees, 25 knots, peak gusts 35 knots, altimeter setting 29.42. The MLS FSS also asked GTF ARTCC if FAL 32 was operating in accordance with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) or IFR and was told the flight was IFR.
Immediately, at 2020, GTF ARTCC contacted FAL 32 and relayed to it the above special weather report except for the omission of the word "Showers". Flight 32 acknowledged.
At 2030 GTF ARTCC asked Flight 32 to "Monitor Great Falls frequency 127.3 now," and the flight acknowledged.
At 2032 MLS FSS gave GTF ARTCC another special weather report. This was the 2030 observation which was: "Indefinite ceiling four hundred, sky obscured, Visibility one, moderate snow showers, surface wind three zero zero degrees, two zero, peak gusts three zero, altimeter two niner four three." GTF ARTCC then contacted Flight 32 to relay the above. However, Flight 32 replied "Standby please" because it was at that time in contact with the FAL agent at MLS on 129.3 mcs. receiving
- ↑ Greenwich mean time, which is 1955 m.s.t.
