1972 08/26 CA Bear Fire -Bell 205

Incident Name: Bear Fire, a fire on the Los Padres National Forest
Date: August 26, 1972
Personnel: 6 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: Type 2 handcrew under contract with the USFS and pilot
Position: firefighters & pilot

Summary:

Pilot and Handcrew Members of Los Diablos, a Marysville CA Farm Workers and Firefighting crew

Earl Lady, Pilot, 38
Filomeno Romero, 46
George Aguilar, 27
Ramon Guizar, 42
J. Running Deer, 35
Jesus Corral Irogoyen, 29

On August 8, 1972 a 13-seat Bell 205 helicopter was ferrying a Type 2 crew of firefighters over Topa Topa Ridge (from Lion Camp to Hines Peak fireline on the Los Padres National Forest) when the engine malfunctioned. The helicopter touched down then slid into a steep canyon in the Hines Creek Area, 8 miles north of Ojai, CA. Five firefighters and the pilot were killed. Five firefighters survived the crash.

Maps

Hines Creek Area 8 miles north of Ojai

General Incident Location

{mosmap lat=’34.510822’|lon=’-119.075942’|marker=’0’|text=’General Accident Location’}

Return to top

Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned

Concise Information from the NTSB, FAA, AAP, USFS, LLC, WFF and research by the WLF Staff:
- August 26, 1972
- 6 killed: Earl Lady, Filomeno Romero, George Aguilar, Ramon Guizar, J. Running Deer, Jesus Irogoyen
- Operator: unknown; under contract with USFS
- Type: BELL 205-A1
- Location: Hines Creek Area, 8 miles north of Ojai, CA
- FAA Registration # N8119J
- NTSB # LAX73AL008
National Transportation Safety Board: Probable Cause (html)Engine failure or malfunction. Engine malfunction resulted in compressor stall. Crashed on steep canyon wall.
Screensave of Probable Cause:
For more information consult the NTSB online lookup Utility: Use NTSB Identification: LAX73AL008
US Forest Service Heroes Memorial Page