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Bus Fire Airtanker Midair Collision Accident 2001

  • Incident Information:

    Attachment Size
    Bus Fire Midair Collision Accident NTSB Final Investigation Report.pdf (802.94 KB) 802.94 KB

  • Location:

    California

  • Date:

    08/27/2001

  • Incident Type:

    Fixed Wing Incident

  • Description:

    On August 27, 2001, about 1840 Pacific daylight time, Tanker 87, a Grumman TS-2A, N450DF, collided with Tanker 92, a Grumman TS-2A, N442DF, near Hopland, California. The California Department of Forestry (CDF) was operating the airplanes as public-use fire suppression flights on the Bus Fire, Mendocino Unit. The collision sequence and post crash fires destroyed both airplanes. Tanker 92 departed Ukiah, California, at 1830, and Tanker 87 departed Ukiah at 1834. Pilots Lawrence Groff and Lars Stratte were killed in the accident. 

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