Incident Name: returning from a forest fire
Date: 10/4/1965
Personnel: 2 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: Liston Aircraft of Klamath Falls, OR
Position: aerial firefighter
Summary:
Fred Childers
Les Liston, 48, pilot
Pilot Les Liston and Fred Childers were killed Oct. 4, 1965, in the crash of a Navy PBY bomber that had been converted to an air tanker. The plane crashed while returning to Klamath Falls from a forest fire. The master rod bearing failed. Wind gusts were up to 60 mph.
PBY Tanker 47
Maps
Klamath Falls, OR
{mosmap lat=’42.237504’|lon=’-121.790646’|marker=’0’|text=’Klamath Falls, OR’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Concise Information from the NTSB, FAA, AAP and research by the WLF Staff:
- 10/4/1965, 1353 hrs, Tanker 47
- 2 killed, Les Liston, pilot & Fred Childers
- Operator: Liston Aircraft of Klamath Falls, OR
- Type: Convair PBY 6A
- Location: near Klamath Falls, OR
- FAA Registration # N6455C
- NTSB # SEA66A0020
- National Transportation Safety Board: Probable Cause (html)
- Powerplant – Engine structure: Master and connecting rods
- Miscellaneous acts, conditions – Material failure
- The pilot in command – improper in-flight decisions or planning
- Weather – Unfavorable wind conditions
- NTSB brief:
- For more information consult the NTSB online lookup Utility Use NTSB Identification #SEA66A0020
- Klamath’s Honored Dead, Klamath County Museums: Fred Childers | Les Liston
- US Social Security Death Index: Fred Childers | Lester Liston
Wildlandfire.com Links:
Media Articles and Reports
Fred Childers and Les Liston named as fallen
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
Contributors to this article: Amanda Deshazo of the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, Mellie
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