Haven Fire Air Tanker Accident Fatality 1959

At 1518 on July 5, 1959, a Grumman TBM-3E Avenger air tanker registered N9830C crashed during suppression operations on the Haven Fire in the Crafton Hills near Yucaipa, California. Pilot Donald Doughty was ejected from the aircraft, still strapped into his seat, and found deceased 100 feet from the main wreckage of the aircraft. According to media reports, Doughty was on a retardant run when his aircraft failed to pull out of its dive, its tail struck a ridge and the plane exploded. Doughty did not release the load of retardant, totaling about 800 gallons or 6,000 pounds. Six firefighters were hit by flying debris from the accident. The Haven Fire was contained at 685 acres. The day before the crash, Doughty's son Charles was assigned to the fire as a member of the Del Rosa Hotshot Crew, but was not present at the time of the crash. 

Media reports indicate an investigation by the Federal Aviation Agency was underway after the accident, but the results of that investigation are not readily available.