Wind River Air Tanker Accident Fatalities 1970

At 1637 on August 18, 1970, a Boeing B-17 registered as N1340N crashed while pulling up from a retardant drop on a fire on the Dry Creek 2 Fire, Wind River Indian Reservation near DuBois, Wyoming. Due to the high temperature and elevation of the terrain, the density altitude was approximately 13,000 feet at the time of the accident. Winds were between 25 and 35 mph, and the drop direction was with the wind (i.e. there was a significant tailwind). After dropping the load of retardant, the aircraft stalled and struck trees. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots, James "Ray" Elgin and John Bastian, were fatally injured.