Fatal Firefighting Aircraft Crash Near Socorro (N73648)

Incident Overview and Location Details The accident involved a firefighting aircraft that had departed from Alamogordo for a mission in the Socorro region. The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, operator, or exact date of the incident. ## Sequence of Events During the operation, the aircraft made a second pass at low altitude. On this pass, the airplane contacted trees and subsequently crashed in flames. The source identifies the operation as a slurry run, indicating the aircraft was engaged in firefighting activities. ## Casualties Both pilots aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash. No other casualties or injuries are mentioned in the source. ## Official Findings The official probable cause was determined to be the pilot's misjudgment of altitude and clearance. Witnesses reported that the pilot was too low during the second slurry run, which aligns with the official finding of inadequate altitude assessment.