Incident Name: Duncom Mountain, Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming
Date: 9/3/69
Personnel: 2 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: Avery Aviation under contract with the US Forest Service
Position: aerial firefighters
Summary:
Dave L. Staudt, 37
Wayne A. Garkie, 27
The PB4Y2 airtanker piloted by Staudt and Garkie was dropping on a fire on Duncom Mountain on 9/3/69. Following a drop run and coming out of the smoke column, the airtanker impacted trees with its right wing. Neither of the crew members survived the crash.
Maps
Duncom Mountain, Bighorn NF, WY
{mosmap lat=’44.868596’|lon=’-107.862336’|marker=’0’|text=’Duncom Mountain, Bighorn NF, WY’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Concise Information from the NTSB, FAA, AAP, USFS and research by the WLF Staff:
- 9/3/69, 1450 hours
- 2 killed: Dave L. Staudt and Wayne A. Garkie
- Operator: Avery Aviation under contract with the US Forest Service
- Type: PB4Y2
- Location: a fire near near Greybull WY.
- FAA Registration # N1911H
- NTSB # DEN70F0121
- National Transportation Safety Board: Probable Cause (html)
- Departure point Greybull WY and planned to return there
- Type of accident – Collided with: Trees
- Phase of operation – In flight: Swath run
- The pilot in command – Improper in-flight decisions or planning.
- Weather – Obstructions to vision.
- Terrain – Hidden obstructions.
- Terrain – High obstructions
- Weather briefing – no record of briefing receivedWeather forecast – unknown, not reported
Sky condition – clear
Ceiling at accident site – unlimited
Visibility at location site – 5 or over (unlimited)
- Precip at accident site – none
Obstructions to vision at accident site – Smoke
Wind direction – 120 degrees
Wind velocity 30 knots
Type of weather conditions – VFR
Type of flight plan – None
- Remarks – Fire slurry drop. Aircraft observed to emerge from smoke cloud on the fire. Right wing down, hit highest trees in flight path.
- For more information consult the NTSB online lookup Utility Use NTSB Identification: DEN70F0121
- US Social Security Death Index: Wayne Garkie
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Wildlandfire.com Links:
Media Articles and Reports
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- US Aerial Firefighters Memorial Wall: David Stoudt | Wayne Garkie
- Wyoming Firefighter’s Memorial: David Stoudt | Wayne Garkie
Contributors to this article: AAP, Mellie
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