Crash of a Boeing B-17G-DL Flying Fortress in Socorro: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1972 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Black Hills Aviation
Registration:
N73648
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Alamogordo - Alamogordo
MSN:
32505
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Tanker 56
Location:
Socorro
New Mexico
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:
3500
Captain / Total hours on type:
325.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Alamogordo on a fire fighting mission in the region of Socorro. During a second pass at low altitude, the airplane contacted trees and crashed in flames. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged altitude and clearance. Witnesses stated that the pilot was too low on the second slurry run.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A near Safford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1972 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Alpine Aviation
Registration:
N140X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Safford - Safford
MSN:
500-1268-91
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:
7589
Captain / Total hours on type:
48.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local fire control mission. En route, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Safford, killing both occupants.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in mountainous terrain for undetermined reason. No witnesses to steep nose down impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso in Pine Point: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Registration:
CF-IDS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hay River - Hay River
MSN:
CV-311
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pine Point
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The Canso departed Hay River with two pilots on a firefighting mission in the region of Pine Point. While flying at low height, circling around the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed in the same area, the Canso collided with a Field Aviation Catalina registered CF-HTN. Two pilots were on board the Catalina and were also engaged in a firefighting mission. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed and were destroyed, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Pine Point: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Field Aviation
Registration:
CF-HTN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hay River - Hay River
MSN:
1637
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pine Point
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The Catalina departed Hay River with two pilots on a firefighting mission in the region of Pine Point. While flying at low height, circling around the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed in the same area, the Catalina collided with a Norcanair Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso registered CF-IDS. Two pilots were on board the Canso and were also engaged in a firefighting mission. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed and were destroyed, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 into the Gulf of Sagona: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-215
Operator:
Registration:
F-ZBBG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1025
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
Pélican 25
Location:
Gulf of Sagona
Corse-du-Sud
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 in south Corsica. While conducting a scooping mission, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed into the Gulf of Sagona. Both pilots, Mr. Patillaud & J. Lebel were killed. The airplane was operated under call sign Pélican 25.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-DL Flying Fortress in Tucson

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1971 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
N9324Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tucson - Tucson
MSN:
32183
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tucson
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:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3020
Captain / Total hours on type:
450.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission in the region of Tucson, Arizona. While flying at low height, the crew noticed a loss of power on all four engines and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an uninhabited area and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the fuel system and ram air assembly. The following factors were reported:
- Partial loss of power on four engines,
- Forced landing off airport on land,
- Baffle in air intake scoop separated from n°4 engine, restering airflow to carburettor 1, 2 and 3 propellers that moved to high pitch.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas A-26 Invader in Springerville: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1971 at 0715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
N86469
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Deming - Winslow
MSN:
18658
YOM:
1943
Location:
Springerville
Arizona
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:
17000
Captain / Total hours on type:
17.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was performing a fire fighting mission in the region of Springerville, Arizona. Approaching the drop zone, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in flames. The pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following factors were reported:
- Poorly planned approach,
- High density altitude,
- Observed steep left bank approaching drop zone,
- Density altitude approximately 7,900 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing TB-17F Flying Fortress near Dubois: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1970 at 1637 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
N1340N
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cody - Cody
MSN:
42-6107
YOM:
1942
Location:
Dubois
Wyoming
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:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
105.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Cody in the afternoon in a firefighting mission in the region of Dubois. While completing a pullup from a swath run, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed on the slope of a mountain. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged the altitude and clearance and failed to obtain/maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Downdrafts, updrafts,
- High density altitude (13,000 feet),
- Fire drop down slope side of mountain,
- Downwind run,
- Wind up to 35 mph.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in Diamond Lake

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1970 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Rosenbalm Aviation
Registration:
N3191G
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Medford - Medford
MSN:
59754
YOM:
1943
Location:
Diamond Lake
Oregon
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:
12707
Captain / Total hours on type:
14.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a firefighting mission and departed Medford Airport around noon. En route, three engines stopped and/or lost power and the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed into Diamond Lake. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, both crew members were injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Jettisoned load,
- Failure of two or more engine,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Complete power loss on three engines,
- No fuel gauges on aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina in Columbia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1970 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
N6459C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Columbia - Columbia
MSN:
2017
YOM:
1943
Location:
Columbia
California
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:
13532
Captain / Total hours on type:
1202.00
Circumstances:
Following a firefighting mission, the crew was returning to Columbia Airport when, on final approach, the airplane was too low and struck a rocky wall located about 252 feet short of runway threshold. The airplane crashed and was destroyed. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged the distance, speed and altitude on final approach, causing the aircraft to struck the ground and to crash. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Downwind,
- High temperature,
- Terrain,
- The crew made a 360 turn at low altitude,
- Hit granite boulders 252 feet short of runway, five feet below the runway.
Final Report:
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