Incident Overview
On October 1, 1992, a Douglas DC-7B airtanker (registration N848D) was engaged in firefighting operations in the El Dorado National Forest. The aircraft had been operating from Stockton, California, and had completed multiple retardant drops earlier that day. Its fourth mission departed at 11:56, immediately followed by a Lockheed SP2H en route to the same fire.
Sequence of Events
The DC-7B arrived in the fire vicinity at an elevation of approximately 6,500 feet MSL at 12:20. The air attack coordinator, flying at about 7,500 feet MSL, briefed the two-person flight crew for a planned retardant drop from north to south, approximately one mile west of the upper dam on a reservoir. This was to be the first drop at that specific location. Visibility was good, exceeding ten miles, with mild but bumpy turbulence. Smoke reduced visibility over the lake to the east of the drop pattern.
According to occupants of the second airtanker, the DC-7B made a turn around the fire and was descending northbound for a drop out of a right-hand pattern when the captain indicated that he wanted to depart the pattern due to an engine problem. He suggested the second airtanker perform the intended drop while he addressed the issue. The second airtanker then received instructions from air attack and began circling to fly a similar pattern.
Shortly thereafter, air attack asked the DC-7B if he needed to abort his load of retardant. The captain replied that he might have to if the engine problem could not be resolved. All radio communications were normal. The lead plane had departed the scene for fuel a few minutes earlier, instructing air attack to perform drops on the west side of the reservoir. Another lead plane was about six minutes out.
Final Maneuvers
The mishap airtanker was reported to be descending at about 6,000 feet MSL heading north-northwest after departing the drop pattern. No visible signs of engine problems or concern in radio transmissions were noted. The DC-7B continued northbound toward gently rising terrain, about two miles from the intended drop site. It was next observed heading east and low to the ground. The airtanker was reported in a sharply pitched-up attitude prior to dropping its retardant. The air attack coordinator observed the retardant start and stop but could not confirm if a full load was dropped; the load appeared continuous. The DC-7B then fell off on the right wing as it descended steeply toward the ground.
During this sequence, the captain transmitted, "We’re going in, we’re going in." Tree strikes then removed the horizontal stabilizers and elevators from the tail. The entire sequence occurred within about 60 seconds. The airtanker went behind a ridge, and white smoke was observed rising from the site.
Impact and Wreckage
The aircraft impacted steep terrain at an elevation of approximately 5,100 feet MSL. Some wreckage was deposited in a creek bottom, with the remainder on an adjacent south-facing slope. Both the captain and copilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was totally destroyed.
Factors
The official investigation identified the probable cause as the pilot’s preoccupation, inattention, or possible distraction while operating the airtanker in close proximity to terrain. Contributing factors included poor crew management and the pilots' failure to recognize the severity of the situation, along with a reluctance to abort the retardant load.