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H O N O R A B L E M E N T I O N
'This event started as a routine end to a typical clearance to the Bozeman
Airport. What happened next was anything but ordinary; in fact the keen awareness of Salt
Lake City Center controller Lee Wheeler saved many lives that night.
"Approaches into and out of Bozeman are non-radar due to the high terrain. Upon losing
radar contact with the Northwest flight, Lee contacted the Bozeman Tower to determine
the location of the aircraft and the Bozeman controller responded that he did not have the
Northwest flight in sight.
"A freak hit on Wheeler's radar scope indicated NWA1273 was way off course. Wheeler,
with the help of the Bozeman controller, re-established radio and radar contact with the
flight and issued a clearance to get him above the terrain.
"The pilot had somehow ventured off course and was well below the minimum safe alti-
tude. Wheeler's actions that night prevented a possible fatal accident. His quick thinking
and persistence enabled him to locate the aircraft and bring it in for a safe landing at
Bozeman."
Scott Farrow
Northwest Mountain Regional Vice President
Robert Holt, Denver Center
