Hemet - Hemet

On October 5, 1998 at 12:36 PM, Hemet - Hemet experienced a crash involving Grumman S-2 Tracker, operated by CDF Aviation - California Department of Forestry - Cal Fire, with the event recorded near Banning California.

The flight was categorized as fire fighting and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The air tanker pilot was on a fire suppression mission with fire retardant chemicals aboard, and had made two previous drops on the fire line. Another tanker and spotter pilot witnessed the last drop approach, and reported that the pilot was turning from base leg to the westerly drop heading downwind while in a 60-degree left bank. The aircraft suddenly rolled left to 90 degrees, and at that point the left wing tip struck the terrain. The winds were estimated by the tanker pilots to be 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 plus from the east. The pilots also reported turbulence and bad air. Airmet Tango was issued for turbulence and isolated severe conditions mainly below 10,000 in the vicinity of canyons and passes.

Aircraft reference details include registration N416DF, MSN 613, year of manufacture 1958.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 33.9256°, -116.8753°.