Grumman TS-2A N416DF

Summary

On 5 October 1998 at about 19:36 local time, a Grumman TS-2A registered N416DF was involved in an accident near Banning, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 October 1998 at 19:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Banning, California, United States

Coordinates

33.9397, -116.9696

Aircraft

Grumman TS-2A

Registration

N416DF

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hemet → Hemet-Ryan

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX99GA005

1 person died.

The pilot misjudged his maneuvering altitude. Factors to this accident were the mountainous terrain, tailwind conditions, and turbulence in the area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The air tanker pilot was on a fire suppression mission with fire retardant chemicals aboard, and had made two previous drops on the fire line. Another tanker and spotter pilot witnessed the last drop approach, and reported that the pilot was turning from base leg to the westerly drop heading downwind while in a 60-degree left bank. The aircraft suddenly rolled left to 90 degrees, and at that point the left wing tip struck the terrain. The winds were estimated by the tanker pilots to be 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 plus from the east. The pilots also reported turbulence and bad air. Airmet Tango was issued for turbulence and isolated severe conditions mainly below 10,000 in the vicinity of canyons and passes.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.