Tanker 04 Collision with Mt. Squaw Slope (N918AP)

Incident Overview On a firefighting mission, an aircraft operating under the callsign Tanker 04 departed Missoula. During the flight, the crew apparently became fixated on a malfunction involving the retardant-release doors. This distraction prevented them from recognizing that the aircraft was entering a narrow box canyon. ## Collision and Outcome The aircraft struck the slope of Mt. Squaw, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Missoula Airport. The impact destroyed the aircraft, and both pilots were killed in the accident. ## Contributing Factors The investigation source indicates that the crew's apparent fixation on the retardant-release door malfunction contributed to the failure to identify the hazardous terrain ahead, leading to the collision.