On July 29, 1994, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune (registration N918AP) operated by Neptune Aviation Charter was involved in an aviation accident near Missoula, United States of America in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew's distraction by malfunctioning retardant-release doors led to a loss of situational awareness regarding the surrounding terrain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A firefighting tanker crashed into a mountainside near Missoula, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.
What happened
Operating under the callsign Tanker 04, the Air Tractor departed from Missoula to perform aerial firefighting operations. During the mission, the crew encountered technical difficulties involving the malfunction of the aircraft's retardant-release doors. While attempting to manage this mechanical issue, the aircraft entered a narrow box canyon near Mt Squaw, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Missoula Airport. The aircraft subsequently impacted the slope of the mountain. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the crash indicate that the crew became preoccupied with the malfunctioning release doors. This fixation on the mechanical failure prevented the pilots from recognizing that the aircraft was flying into a restricted canyon area, leading to the fatal collision with the terrain.
Probable cause
The crew's distraction by malfunctioning retardant-release doors led to a loss of situational awareness regarding the surrounding terrain.