What happened
During an aerial firefighting operation in the vicinity of Socorro, an aircraft departed from Alamogordo to address active fires in the region. While executing its mission, the crew attempted a second pass at a low altitude to deliver necessary materials. During this maneuver, the airplane struck trees and subsequently crashed into flames.
There were two fatalities resulting from the accident, as both members of the flight crew perished in the impact.
Findings
Investigations into the crash indicated that the pilot failed to maintain sufficient clearance from the terrain during the low-altitude pass. According to eyewitness accounts, the aircraft was flying at an excessively low altitude during the second slurry run, leading to the fatal contact with the vegetation.