-
Location:
Idaho -
Date:
07/09/1965 -
Incident Type:
Fixed Wing Incident -
Description:
Pilot Byron Knapp and smokejumper Kenneth Salyer were killed when their Beech C-45 crashed during cargo operations on a fire in Norton Creek, Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho. The twin engine Beech aircraft had flown to the new fire with a load of four McCall smokejumpers and smokejumper spotter Salyer. After the jumpers successfully landed near the fire, the Beech circled around to drop a load of cargo to the firefighters. The first drop landed in the midst of the fire. On the second attempt to drop cargo, the gusty winds and downdrafts in the narrow canyon caused the pilot to lose control, and the plane crashed, killing the pilot and spotter. According to the wishes of his family, Knapp was buried at the USFS airfield at Indian Creek in the Idaho backcountry.
Fixed Wing Incident or Accident, Fatality, Initial Attack, Aviation