Accident Overview
A Douglas C-54G (Tanker 19) and a Beech 58P (Lead 56) were operating on a fire suppression mission with the USDA Forest Service. Tanker 19 was configured as an aerial tanker, while Lead 56 was performing a lead operation. Both aircraft proceeded to an uncontrolled airport at Ramona, California, for landing on runway 27 using a 360° overhead approach. Lead 56 departed the fire area approximately five minutes before Tanker 19.
Sequence of Events
Tanker 19 was on the initial approach about one mile east of the airport when the two aircraft collided. Investigation revealed that Lead 56 struck the vertical stabilizer of Tanker 19 while descending. The empennages of both airplanes separated, and both crashed in uncontrolled descents.
A Grumman S2 pilot who was following Tanker 19 reported observing Tanker 19 slightly below the horizon while in a shallow descent to the airport. He heard Tanker 19 make two position calls at eight and two miles on initial approach. Moments before the collision, he also heard a transmission from Lead 56 but did not see Lead 56, nor was he watching Tanker 19 when the collision occurred.
Investigation Findings
Investigators were unable to determine Lead 56's activities after departing the fire area. Transmissions from Lead 56 were heard on the forest service tactical (operations) frequency when the aircraft was within ten miles of the airport. Moments before the collision, Lead 56 was heard on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). Forest service procedures required all pilots to transmit their position on the CTAF within ten miles of the airport. The Forest Service had not made arrangements with the airport manager to perform overhead approaches, nor were parameters published for initial approach altitude or airspeed.