Independence Lake Fire Air Tanker Accident Fatality 1960

On August 18, 1960, a single engine, single pilot air tanker crashed while on a retardant run on the Tahoe National Forest. Pilot Donald Gilbert Akers and his converted TBM Avenger torpedo bomber were based at Nervino Airport near Beckwourth, California to assist suppression operations on the Plumas and Tahoe National Forests. Akers was requested to make a drop on what was likely a 45-acre fire near Independence Lake north of Truckee, when his airplane impacted terrain and he was killed. Witnesses reported that he may have hit a snag while climbing out of a retardant run. The fire was contained the following day.