Butler Creek Fire Air Tanker Accident Fatalities 1994

In the midst of air tanker operations on an initial attack fire on the Lolo National Forest in Montana, the leadplane assigned to the fire left to refuel at Missoula. After refueling the leadplane was reassigned to a higher priority fire. Air tanker operations continued with pilots qualified to drop retardant without a leadplane. The accident aircraft, a P2V-7, coordinated with ground resources to drop its load of retardant on a spot fire that had become active. While circling to approach, the tanker was seen dropping half its load on a patch of timber one mile from the fire. Investigators believe this drop was a system malfunction. The tanker maneuvered to drop on the desired location, and it pilot asked if the drop zone was clear. Receiving confirmation that the area was clear, the pilot then advised the ground resources that it was "turning final." As the tanker was still turning to line up for the drop, the pilot radioed that the aircraft was going to crash. After this call, the tanker rolled to wings level and began a steep climb to escape the rising terrain. The aircraft impacted terrain 350 feet below the bottom of a ridge. The pilots both survived the initial crash, but quickly succumbed to severe burns injuries. The burning air tanker ignited a wildland fire which was not attacked by resources until July 31, per management decision. The two pilots lost on the Butler Creek Fire were Bob Kelly and Randy Lynn. No NTSB report is available.