Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Kamloops: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
CF-PWA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
44698
YOM:
1955
Location:
Kamloops
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Kamloops while engaged in a fire fighting mission. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in Boise: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1974 at 1935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
N91354
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Boise - Boise
MSN:
7181
YOM:
1941
Location:
Boise
Idaho
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
16549
Captain / Total hours on type:
729.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was preparing for a local fire fighting mission. While taxiing on the apron, the Invader collided with a private Beechcraft M24R registered N2529W with one pilot on board. Following the collision, both aircraft caught fire and were destroyed. The pilot on board the Beechcraft was killed instantly while the pilot on board the Invader was seriously injured. He died three days later from his injuries.
Probable cause:
Diverted attention from operation of aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to see and avoid other aircraft,
- ATC failed to advise crew about other traffic,
- Invader taxiing east and Beechcraft taxiing north.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/C-H2 Turbo Porter in Mt Baldy

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1974 at 1042 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Intermountain Aviation
Registration:
N351FH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mt Baldy - Mt Baldy
MSN:
2012
YOM:
1967
Location:
Mt Baldy
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9199
Captain / Total hours on type:
4950.00
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff from a short airstrip at Mt Baldy, the single engine airplane struck trees and crashed. All three occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The crew was engaged in a survey flight against forest fire.
Probable cause:
Failed to maintain flying speed at takeoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- High density altitude, about 12,000 feet,
- Airport conditions,
- High altitude short runway takeoff,
- Wind 12-15 then died, causing the aircraft to settle down slope into trees.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer near Safford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1974 at 0726 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
SS&T Aerial Contractors
Registration:
N7237C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tucson - Tucson
MSN:
59763
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
Tanker 50
Location:
Safford
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Circumstances:
The crew departed Tucson Airport in the early morning on a firefighting mission in the region of Safford. While flying at low height over the forest in fire, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a mountain slope. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged the clearance with ground. The following factors were reported:
- High obstructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon near Winslow: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1974 at 1357 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Harpoon
Operator:
Master Equipment Company
Registration:
N7263C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Whiteriver - Whiteriver
MSN:
15-1247
YOM:
1944
Location:
Winslow
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2200
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Whiteriver on a fire fighting mission. While flying at low height, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the crew failed to maintain flying speed .The following factors were reported:
- High density altitude, about 12,000 feet,
- High temperature,
- Lost control in steep bank.
Final Report:

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy 101 in Anchorage

Date & Time: May 19, 1974 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy
Operator:
Registration:
N891U
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Anchorage - Aniak
MSN:
6655
YOM:
1959
Location:
Anchorage-Ted Stevens Intl
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9703
Captain / Total hours on type:
2039.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 20 at Anchorage-Intl Airport, the pilot-in-command realized the takeoff was not possible so he decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, rolled for 689 yards then collided with trees and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Aborted takeoff and overran following poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation and/or planning,
- Gust locks engaged,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Elevator gust lock not removed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1 in Vignale: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-215
Operator:
Registration:
F-ZBBM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1019
YOM:
1971
Flight number:
Pélican 19
Location:
Vignale
Haute-Corse
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission over a mountainous area located in Vignale, about 18 km south of Bastia. As the crew was attempting a low pass over the fire, the aircraft struck power cables and crashed. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Daniel Mougin, pilot,
Jacques Fossier, copilot.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-110-VE Flying Fortress in Eureka: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1973 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Aircraft Specialties Company
Registration:
N620L
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Elko - Elko
MSN:
8749
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
Tanker 54
Location:
Eureka
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11300
Captain / Total hours on type:
59.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Elko Airport in the early evening on a fire fighting mission in the region of Eureka. While flying at low height, the pilot-in-command initiated a sharp turn when control was lost. The airplane crashed in a hilly terrain and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed. The following factors were reported:
- Downdrafts, updrafts,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Downwind,
- Low altitude steep turn downwind over down slope side of mountain,
- Dry run over fire line,
- Full load,
- Wind gusty.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman S-2F-1 Tracker in Catania: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
MM148302
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sigonella - Sigonella
MSN:
741
YOM:
1958
Location:
Catania
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Sigonella NAS following a fire fighting mission. While completing a turn on approach, the airplane stalled and crashed in Misterbianco, west of Catania. A pilot was seriously injured while the second occupant was killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in Wenatchee

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1972 at 1818 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
N6816D
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wenatchee - Wenatchee
MSN:
59905
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wenatchee
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10600
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Circumstances:
Following a fire fighting mission in the region of Wenatchee, the crew was returning to Wenatchee-Pangborn Airport. On short final, the airplane crashed in flames short of runway threshold and came to rest. Both pilots were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for undetermined reason.
Final Report:
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