Crash of a Canadair CL-215-1A10 in Albertacce: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-215
Operator:
Registration:
F-ZBAX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Marseille - Marseille
MSN:
1022
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
Pélican 22
Location:
Albertacce
Haute-Corse
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a fire fighting mission under call sign Pélican 22, carrying two pilots and a firefighter. While fighting a fire on the slope of a wooded mountain, the airplane struck the ground and crashed in flames. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Roger Carcasses, pilot,
Roger Faugeron, pilot.
Passenger:
F. Mosali, firefighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in McGrath: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1970 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
N154R
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
McGrath - Galena
MSN:
6156
YOM:
1942
Location:
McGrath
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
11700
Captain / Total hours on type:
390.00
Circumstances:
At liftoff at McGrath Airport, the airplane went out of control, collided with trees and crashed in flames. A crew member and four passengers were killed while several others were seriously injured. The aircraft was engaged in a fire control activity between McGrath and Galena when the accident occurred.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a diverted attention from operation of aircraft. Collision with high obstructions and fire after impact. It was reported that the pilote rotated at V2 speed and then reduced power when the copilot raised the landing gear. It was observed that the right main gear was still on the ground when retracted, causing the propeller to struck the runway surface.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in Greybull: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1969 at 1450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
N1911H
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Greybull - Greybull
MSN:
59792
YOM:
1943
Location:
Greybull
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:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Greybull on a firefighting mission. While flying at low height, the aircraft went through the smoke when it struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper in-flight decisions or planning on part of the flying crew. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Obstructions to vision,
- Hidden obstruction,
- High obstructions,
- Right wing down hit highest trees in flight path.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Shawnigan Lake: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1968 at 2045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
The Flying Fireman
Registration:
CF-FFY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Victoria - Victoria
MSN:
1842
YOM:
1944
Location:
Jarvis Lake
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
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 in Jarvis Lake on behalf of the BC Forest Service. While flying at low height, the airplane struck trees and crashed. Both pilots Thomas Swanson and Tom Worley were killed.
Probable cause:
Misjudgement of altitude on part of the crew.

Crash of a Consolidated P4Y-2G Privateer in McGrath: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1968 at 1757 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Avery Aviation
Registration:
N7974A
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
McGrath - McGrath
MSN:
66306
YOM:
1944
Location:
McGrath
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1334
Captain / Total hours on type:
245.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission near McGrath. While flying at low height, the airplane stuck the slope of a mountain and crashed, killing all four occupants.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command misjudged altitude and clearance, causing the aircraft to struck the slope of a mountain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas B-26 Invader in Show Low

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1968 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
N8629E
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
7285
YOM:
1941
Location:
Show Low
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:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10300
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a fire fighting mission in the region of show Low. While cruising at low height, the right engine lost power. The pilot shot down the engine and feathered the propeller and started to drop its retardant load when the left engine caught fire. He attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The cause of the loss of power on the right engine could not be determined while fire on the left engine was caused by the failure of the n°11 cylinder head.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-PB-1W Flying Fortress in Kalispell

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1967 at 0927 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
N7228C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kalispell - Kalispell
MSN:
32498
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kalispell
Montana
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:
2600
Captain / Total hours on type:
210.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kalispell Airport while on a firefighting mission, the copilot informed ground that the engine number three caught fire and elected to return for an emergency landing. Fire spread quickly to the right wing and the crew realized he could not make it so the captain attempted an emergency landing in an open field located near the airport. The airplane crash landed and came to rest in flames. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Fire on engine number three after takeoff for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBV-1A Canso near Victoria: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1967 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
The Flying Fireman
Registration:
CF-FFX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Victoria - Victoria
MSN:
CV-293
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
Tanker 772
Location:
Victoria
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10300
Captain / Total hours on type:
500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3600
Copilot / Total hours on type:
53
Circumstances:
The crew was called at 1630LT for a forest fire that erupted on Skirt mountain near Victoria. The crew first made a scooping mission on the Saanich Inlet with more than 1,000 gallons of water. About an hour later, while flying at low height, the left wing of Tanker 772 struck a tree and the airplane crashed. Both pilots were killed, Alex Davidson (founder of The Flying Fireman) and Robert 'Paddy' Moore. The mission was completed on behalf of the BC Forest Service.
Probable cause:
Misjudgement of altitude on part of the flying crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell near Rampart: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1967 at 1550 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Colco Aviation
Registration:
N9937Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rampart - Rampart
MSN:
108-24236
YOM:
1942
Location:
Rampart
Alaska
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:
6266
Captain / Total hours on type:
222.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire control mission in the region of Rampart. While cruising at a too low altitude, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged altitude and clearance.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Klamath Falls: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1965 at 1353 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Liston Aircraft
Registration:
N6455C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Klamath Falls
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:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6280
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1807
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire-fighting mission in the region of Klamath Falls. While flying at low height in strong wind conditions, one of the engine failed. The crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude nor the good track when the airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of one engine caused by a master rod bearing failure. Improper in-flight decisions on part of the crew and unfavorable wind conditions (up to 60 mph at the time of the accident) were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:
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