Boise Air Tanker Training Accident Fatality 1970

At 0927 on June 19, 1970, a Grumman TMB Avenger registered N7026C operating as Tanker D4 crashed during training. During the training flight in the Boise area, the aircraft developed an engine fire fed by fuel. With the engine failing and a significant fire developing, the pilot chose to jump out of the airplane (he was equipped with a parachute). He was about 4 miles short of the runway at Boise airport. Because he was within only 75 to 300 feet from the ground, the parachute did not open in time and the pilot, Robert Bullock, was killed. The plane was destroyed and sparked a post-crash fire. The plane was being readied for the upcoming fire season.