Ziploc Fire Lead Plane Crash Fatality 1991

On June 21, 1991, a fire was burning on private land within the Cibola National Forest approximately 40 nautical miles west of the Albuquerque, New Mexico Airport (ABQ). At 1434 hrs a Beech 58 Baron departed Albuquerque to serve as a lead plane over the fire. The lead plane provided guidance for 17 retardant runs, and was on its last run before returning for fuel, attempting to direct a retardant drop into an arroyo. On this drop, the Baron lead plane pilot indicated the drop area by rocking the Baron's wings, then initiated a sharp left rising turn. The turn continued until the plane impacted trees and the ground in an inverted orientation. The plane burned after impacting the ground. The pilot, Henry Kim, was killed in the accident. No further details indicating a contributing factors for the accident are available.