The Triple Chair Tragedy: What Really Happened In The Red Lodge Mountain Death Of Jeffrey Zinne

The skiing community in Montana was rocked by tragedy in March 2025, when a fatal chairlift incident at Red Lodge Mountain claimed the life of a local resident. This devastating event, which occurred on the resort’s Triple Chairlift, has cast a somber shadow over the close-knit ski culture of south-central Montana and immediately triggered a rigorous, large-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mechanical failure. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks in mountain sports and has brought the critical importance of ski lift safety standards—specifically the ANSI B77.1-2022—to the forefront of public discussion, with the resort vowing full transparency and action to prevent future occurrences.

The tragedy involves a 37-year-old man from Billings, Montana, who succumbed to his injuries two days after the fall, prompting a wave of condolences and questions about the resort's operational protocols under severe weather conditions. Authorities, including the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, quickly confirmed the details, while Red Lodge Mountain officials immediately closed the lift and engaged a team of independent experts to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the catastrophic failure. The fresh details from the ongoing inquiry highlight a rare but devastating combination of powerful environmental forces and mechanical stress on the aging lift infrastructure.

Biography and Incident Timeline: Jeffrey Zinne

The victim of the tragic Red Lodge Mountain incident was identified as Jeffrey Zinne, a 37-year-old man and resident of Billings, Montana. While specific personal details are often kept private out of respect for the family, Zinne was a member of the local community, and his death has had a profound impact on the Billings and Red Lodge areas. The initial reports confirmed he was alone on the lift at the time of the accident.

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• Name: Jeffrey Zinne
• Age: 37
• Hometown: Billings, Montana
• Date of Incident: Monday, March 10, 2025, just before noon.
• Location: Triple Chairlift at Red Lodge Mountain.
• Cause of Fall: A fall from the chairlift after an "unexpectedly strong wind gust" caused the lift cable to derope.
• Date of Death: Died two days later, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at a Billings hospital due to injuries sustained in the fall.
• Official Involved: Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan confirmed the initial details of the fatality.

The Catastrophic Failure of the Triple Chairlift

The core of the investigation revolves around the mechanical failure of the Triple Chairlift, a piece of infrastructure that is central to the Red Lodge Mountain experience. The ski area, located in the Beartooth Mountains southeast of Billings, is renowned for its challenging terrain and stunning views, but this incident has brought its lift operations into sharp focus.

The accident was not attributed to user error but to a highly unusual and powerful environmental factor: an "unexpectedly strong wind gust." Resort spokesperson Troy Hawks confirmed that this extreme weather event caused the lift cable to "derope," meaning the cable came off the sheaves or the bullwheel. This sudden, violent movement of the lift infrastructure is what is believed to have thrown Jeffrey Zinne from the chair.

The immediate aftermath saw Red Lodge Mountain Patrol arrive on the scene quickly, around 11:53 a.m., just two minutes after receiving the call at 11:51 a.m. Despite the swift response and immediate transport to a Billings hospital, the injuries proved fatal. The resort immediately shut down the Triple Chairlift and launched a comprehensive investigation, engaging independent experts, including professional weather forecasters and structural engineers, to scrutinize every aspect of the lift's operation and maintenance.

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Ski Lift Safety Standards and Montana Ski Law

The tragic death of a skier due to a mechanical failure raises critical questions about the current state of ski lift safety and the legal framework governing mountain operations in the United States. While fatal lift accidents are statistically rare, each incident forces a re-evaluation of industry practices and regulatory compliance.

The ANSI B77.1-2022 Standard

The gold standard for lift safety across the nation is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B77.1-2022: Passenger Ropeways—Safety Standard. This comprehensive document governs the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of all aerial lifts, surface lifts, tows, and conveyors at ski areas. The standard dictates stringent requirements for everything from cable strength and grip force to the implementation of wind-speed monitoring and automatic shutdown protocols. The Red Lodge Mountain investigation will be heavily focused on whether the Triple Chairlift’s design and operational limits were in full compliance with the most current ANSI B77.1 standard, especially concerning high-wind deropement prevention.

Montana Ski Area Operator Duties

Montana has specific legislation, known as Montana Ski Law, that outlines the duties of ski area operators. This law mandates that operators must "construct, operate, maintain, and repair any passenger ropeway" and take "reasonable actions to properly" ensure the safety of tramway passengers. While the law also outlines the Skier & Boarder Responsibility Code—emphasizing that skiers must stay in control and be aware of their surroundings—the responsibility for lift infrastructure falls squarely on the resort.

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The ongoing investigation will determine if the maintenance schedule for the Triple Chairlift was adhered to, if the resort was negligent in operating the lift under severe wind conditions, or if the wind gust was an unforeseeable "act of God" that exceeded the lift's design parameters. The findings will have significant implications for liability and future safety protocols not just at Red Lodge Mountain, but across all Montana ski resorts.

Historical Context and The Future of Red Lodge Mountain

Red Lodge Mountain, which traces its roots back to the Silver Run Ski Club, has long been a beloved institution in the region, known for its challenging terrain on the eastern front of the Beartooth Mountains. The mountain is Montana's fourth largest ski area and is a major destination near the northeast corner of Yellowstone.

While ski lift fatalities are rare, this incident recalls historical tragedies, such as the 1976 Gondola II tragedy in Colorado, which remains one of the deadliest ski-related lift incidents in U.S. history. These events serve as painful benchmarks that drive continuous improvement in safety technology and regulation across the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA).

For Red Lodge Mountain, the path forward involves a commitment to a "rigorous and thorough investigation" to restore public confidence in their operations. The resort has promised to implement any necessary changes recommended by the structural engineers and independent experts. This comprehensive review will likely lead to updated operational procedures, especially concerning the wind thresholds for shutting down lifts like the Triple Chair, ensuring that the legacy of Jeffrey Zinne leads to a safer experience for all future patrons of the mountain.