What happened
On the day of the accident, an Electra departed from Runway 16 at the Cranbrook Airport in British Columbia. The crew, consisting of two pilots, was engaged in a mission to manage a small ground fire located approximately two nautical miles southwest of Cranbrook. Prior to the arrival of the main aircraft, a Turbo Commander, acting as a "bird dog," had departed the same airport to evaluate flight path profiles and determine the most effective method for delivering fire retardant.
Following the reconnaissance flight by the Turbo Commander, the Electra (Tanker 86) proceeded to execute the retardant drop on the designated fire. After completing the delivery of the retardant load, the aircraft was observed performing an initial right turn followed by a left turn. At 1221 MST, the aircraft struck terrain on the side of a steep ridge at an elevation of approximately 3,900 feet. The impact caused the aircraft to explode, and both pilots sustained fatal injuries. The resulting post-crash fire was intense, destroying much of the wreckage and igniting a new forest fire in the vicinity. The aircraft's emergency locator transmitter failed to activate due to damage sustained during the impact.
Findings
- The aircraft struck a steep ridge during a maneuvering phase following a retardant drop.
- The impact was severe enough to cause an explosion and destroy the emergency locator transmitter.
- The crash site subsequently ignited a larger forest fire.