What happened
On October 1, 1992, a Douglas DC-7B airtanker, registration N848D, was conducting aerial firefighting operations near the El Dorado National Forest. After departing Stockton, California, the aircraft arrived at the fire zone at approximately 12:20. The two-person crew was briefed by air attack for a retardant drop near a reservoir. While the weather featured good visibility and mild turbulence, smoke was reducing visibility near the lake area.
During the mission, the pilot reported an engine issue and requested to exit the drop pattern, suggesting another aircraft take over the scheduled drop. While communicating with air attack, the aircraft was observed descending toward rising terrain. The aircraft was seen flying at a low altitude and in a sharp pitch-up attitude. During the attempt to drop retardant, the aircraft was observed falling off on its right wing while descending steeply.
As the aircraft descended, the pilot transmitted that they were going in. The aircraft subsequently struck trees, which caused the loss of the elevators and horizontal stabilizers. The Douglas DC-7B impacted the ground in rugged terrain at an elevation of roughly 5,100 feet MSL. The crash resulted in 2 fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced tree strikes that destroyed the tail's control surfaces.
- The impact occurred in steep terrain, with wreckage distributed between a creek bed and a south-facing slope.