Nevada Air Tanker Accident Fatalities 1973

At 1915 on July 12, 1973, a Boeing B-17G registered N620L crashed while on a low pass over a fire near Eureka, Nevada. The plane, piloted by Wayne Waller and David Poindexter, was in a dry run pass over the fire line when it stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed. Wind at the time of the accident was gusting upwards of 45 mph. The cause of the accident was attributed to the failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, as well as to the high winds, smoky conditions, and unstable atmosphere. A lawsuit related to the accident also alleged that the pilot-in-command, Waller, was fatigued due to a heavy workload and shortened rest period.