N6856C PV-2 Harpoon
Chandler Memorial AZ, October 1987.
On 20 April 1997 this veteran tanker, by then operated by John W. Hirth/ Hirth Air Tankers, Dothan AL & Buffalo WY, was lost in a fatal crash at Blandburg PA.
The aircraft was dispatched to drop a load of retardant on a fire burning up a valley wall. The pilot (owner John Hirth) made radio contact with the firefighters on the ground, who requested that he deliver the entire load on the first drop. A helicopter pilot who was dropping water on the fire positioned himself about a mile away to allow the PV-2 to make its drop. The winds were from the northwest at 15 knots and gusting to 20 knots, and the helicopter pilot reported turbulence in the area. The helicopter pilot watched as the air tanker came from the northeast, overflew the fire, and made a descending counterclockwise turn. The airplane flew towards the fire parallel to the valley ridge, and the helicopter pilot observed the air tanker drop its retardant. During the drop, the airplane flew through smoke, and its right wing impacted trees on the upslope side of the valley. The airplane then rolled 90 degrees and descended into the steeply inclined wooded terrain.
N6856C PV-2 Harpoon
Chandler Memorial AZ, October 1987.
On 20 April 1997 this veteran tanker, by then operated by John W. Hirth/ Hirth Air Tankers, Dothan AL & Buffalo WY, was lost in a fatal crash at Blandburg PA.
The aircraft was dispatched to drop a load of retardant on a fire burning up a valley wall. The pilot (owner John Hirth) made radio contact with the firefighters on the ground, who requested that he deliver the entire load on the first drop. A helicopter pilot who was dropping water on the fire positioned himself about a mile away to allow the PV-2 to make its drop. The winds were from the northwest at 15 knots and gusting to 20 knots, and the helicopter pilot reported turbulence in the area. The helicopter pilot watched as the air tanker came from the northeast, overflew the fire, and made a descending counterclockwise turn. The airplane flew towards the fire parallel to the valley ridge, and the helicopter pilot observed the air tanker drop its retardant. During the drop, the airplane flew through smoke, and its right wing impacted trees on the upslope side of the valley. The airplane then rolled 90 degrees and descended into the steeply inclined wooded terrain.