Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 4 August 1959
Aircraft Type: Ford 5-AT-C Tri-Motor
Owner/operator: Johnson Flying Service
Registration Number: N8419
Location: Moose Creek, ID –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: Aircraft structure and systems (specifically the landing gear and engine).Aircraft structure and systems (specifically the landing gear and engine).
Category: Accident
A Tri-Motor aircraft crashed during a delivery operation in the Nezperce National Forest. The aircraft was tasked with delivering goods to a backcountry airstrip and dropping smokejumpers. A malfunction resulted in the aircraft crashing into trees at the end of a dirt runway, causing a fire. The incident involved a forest supervisor, a smokejumper foreman, and two smokejumpers.A Tri-Motor aircraft crashed during a delivery operation in the Nezperce National Forest. The aircraft was tasked with delivering goods to a backcountry airstrip and dropping smokejumpers. A malfunction resulted in the aircraft crashing into trees at the end of a dirt runway, causing a fire. The incident involved a forest supervisor, a smokejumper foreman, and two smokejumpers.
Description
The Tri-Motor took off from the Grangeville to deliver goods to the backcountry airstrip at Moose Creek on the Nezperce National Forest and to drop two smokejumpers on a fire burning on Pettibone Ridge. Aboard the aircraft were a forest supervisor, a smokejumper foreman and two smokejumpers. When landing at Moose Creek to drop off the supplies before dropping the jumpers, the aircraft crashed into the trees at the end of the dirt runway and burst into flames.
Primary Cause
Mechanical failure during takeoff and landing.Mechanical failure during takeoff and landing.Share on:
