Incident Name: a small brush fire on the Eldorado National Forest — in the Sierra foothills
Date: 8/25/73
Personnel: 2 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: private operator under contract with the USFS
Position: aerial firefighters
Summary:
Dick Rogers, 34, of Clovis CA, pilot
Lynn Douglas, 47, of San Andreas, CA, fire spotter
A fire spotter and a fire pilot died in a Bell 206B helicopter crash in the northern California foothills, heading out to work on a fire on the Eldorado National Forest. The aircraft ran into a wire and crashed.
Maps
Near Columbia, CA on takeoff.
{mosmap lat=’38.022764’|lon=’-120.407379’|marker=’0’|text=’Columbia, CA’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Concise Information from the NTSB, FAA, AAP, USFS, LLC, WFF and research by the WLF Staff:
- August 26, 1973
- 2 killed: Dick Rogers. Lynn Douglas
- Operator: unknown; under contract with the USFS
- Type: BELL 206B
- Location: near departure point at Columbia, CA.
- FAA Registration # N165FD
- NTSB # OAK74AP007
- National Transportation Safety Board: Probable Cause (html)Pilot in command failed to see and avoid objects and obstructions; the aircraft struck a wire.
- For whatever information is available consult the NTSB online lookup Utility. Use NTSB Identification: OAK74AP007
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