What happened
During an aerial firefighting mission near Aubenas, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune was operating as part of a larger fleet tasked with combating a forest fire. The formation included one De Havilland DHC-8 and two Canadair CL-415 aircraft, alongside two Tracker aircraft. The mission commenced following a departure from Marseille-Marignane.
As the mission progressed, the first Tracker aircraft in the group successfully completed a retardant drop over the target area. As the second Lockheed P-2 Neptune moved into position to perform its task, the aircraft struck hilly terrain. The impact caused the aircraft to burst into flames upon contact with the ground. There were no survivors, as both pilots perished in the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in a high-density aerial firefighting environment.
- The accident occurred during the active phase of fire suppression operations.
- The primary cause of the crash was the collision with hilly terrain during the approach to the fire zone.