What happened
On an afternoon during forest fire operations near Red Earth Creek, Alberta, a Cessna T 310Q, registration C-FGZR, crashed while performing as a birddog aircraft. The crew, consisting of the pilot and an air attack officer, was conducting a "dummy run" to establish a flight path for water bombers targeting Fire 87. During a steep left-hand turn at a low altitude, the aircraft descended into the forest. The impact and subsequent intense fuel-fed fire destroyed the aircraft, resulting in two fatalities.
Prior to the accident, the aircraft had flown from Red Deer to Manning, Alberta, to refuel before being dispatched to the fire site. The aircraft was observed making sharp turns to coordinate the placement of retardant on the fire's eastern flank. Radio contact with the crew was lost at approximately 1414 hours.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage, which was recovered from the forested terrain after smoke and fire had subsided. The examination of the Cessna T 310Q revealed that the engines were still producing power at the moment of impact, as evidenced by the damage to the propellers. No mechanical defects or pre-existing issues were found in the aircraft's components.
The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training records. While the pilot held an airline transport rating and significant total flight time, this was his first operational flight of the season. The investigation also considered the aerodynamic implications of the aircraft's weight and center of gravity, noting that the center of gravity was at the forward limit for its weight, which typically increases stalling speed.
Findings
- The aircraft likely entered a stall during a low-level turning maneuver.
- Several contributing factors narrowed the margin for error, including low airspeed and steep bank angles during the maneuver.
- The forward center of gravity position further increased the aircraft's stalling speed.
- The low altitude at which the maneuver was being performed made recovery from the stall impossible before ground impact.