Incident Overview
On July 25, 2024, at approximately 1800 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802A (N805DG) was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Izee, Oregon. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was being operated as public use for firefighting support.
Flight Sequence
The airplane was operating out of Burns Municipal Airport (BNO) in Burns, Oregon, in support of fire suppression operations. A flight of two airplanes was en route for their third drop when the accident airplane, in the lead position, maneuvered away from a column of smoke near the northwestern corner of an active temporary flight restriction (TFR) for the Falls fire. The pilot of the trailing airplane chose not to maneuver through the TFR corner due to visibility concerns, and the accident pilot agreed, instructing the trailing pilot to take the lead. The trailing pilot turned west and observed the accident pilot move the airplane to a trailing position. Shortly thereafter, the trailing pilot lost sight of the accident airplane.
Preliminary radar data indicated that the accident airplane assumed an in-trail position behind the other aircraft, then initiated a right turn to the northeast. The last recorded radar target showed the airplane at approximately 700 ft above ground level (agl), with a groundspeed of 175 knots, on a northerly heading, about 0.9 miles south of the accident site.
Wreckage Examination
The airplane struck terrain approximately 30 nautical miles north-northwest of BNO. Examination of the accident site revealed a wreckage debris path about 1,000 ft in length, oriented on a magnetic heading of approximately 240°. The first identified point of contact consisted of a series of damaged trees. The debris path extended about 280 ft to a ground scar consistent with the left wing. A large tree located about 380 ft from the first point of contact displayed impact marks. Pieces of the hopper, engine, propeller, and fuselage were found near this tree. All major components of the airplane were observed throughout the debris path. The forward fuselage came to rest upright against a tree on a magnetic heading of about 060°, at an elevation of 5,730 ft mean sea level.
The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.