Accident Overview
An air tanker collided with terrain while conducting fire retardant drops on a wildfire. The aircraft was part of a group of three air tankers working together to suppress the fire.
Flight Sequence
The pilot planned to drop retardant into a gap created by the other two air tankers. He reported feeling anxious to reach the fire because it was advancing through the gap. During the first run, the pilot flew in a southerly direction heading downhill. After completing the drop, he pulled off to the left and executed a 270-degree right turn to set up for another drop.
Second Drop and Impact
The second drop began with the airplane heading north uphill into rising terrain. Shortly after initiating the drop, the pilot realized the aircraft would not be able to outclimb the terrain. He attempted a right turn to avoid the hillside, but the airplane impacted approximately 10 feet below the crest of a hill in a level attitude.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane. He attributed the accident to being caught by a downdraft during the drop.
Investigation Findings
The accident investigation determined that the aircraft was operating normally and that the pilot's actions were consistent with attempting to avoid terrain in challenging conditions. No further causal factors were identified in the source material.