2 fatalities

Fatal aircraft accident during firefighting mission near San Luis Obispo

Pozo, United States of AmericaFlight

On September 8, 1958, a Consolidated PBY Catalina operated by United States Forest Service - USFS was involved in an aviation accident near Pozo, United States of America in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cause of the accident remains undetermined. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A tanker aircraft crashed while conducting firefighting operations in the Pozo region, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.

What happened

During a scheduled aerial firefighting operation in the vicinity of Pozo, located approximately 16 miles east of San Luis Obispo, a tanker aircraft went down. The exact circumstances surrounding the descent and impact remain undetermined at this time.

At the time of the accident, the aircraft was actively engaged in mission tasks intended to combat regional fires. The crash resulted in two fatalities, as both members of the flight crew perished in the event.

Findings

The specific cause of the crash has not yet been established, as the incident occurred under unknown circumstances.

Probable cause

The cause of the accident remains undetermined.