Rockwell S-2R-1200 accident near Cottonwood, ID
On July 10, 2001, a Rockwell S-2R-1200 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cottonwood, ID. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 10, 2001
- Place
- Cottonwood, ID
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R-1200 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.940°N, 116.521°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010714X01431
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 10, 2001, about 1114 Pacific daylight time, a Rockwell International S-2R-1200 (Thrush), N4947X, was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire after colliding with terrain approximately 20 miles southwest of Cottonwood, Idaho. The airplane was owned by Craigmont Air Services, Incorporated, and was being operated as a fire suppression/aerial applicator flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 137, when the accident occurred. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated from Craigmont, Idaho, approximately 35 minutes prior to the accident. The airplane, loaded with approximately 450 gallons of fire retardant, departed Craigmont, Idaho, at 1040. Approximately 35 minutes after departure, the airplane arrived at the site of the fire, and was directed to dump retardant on the fire's east flank. The pilot reported to fire crews on the ground that he was going to fly down the east flank of the fire, through the smoke, and drop the retardant. A witness on the ground stated the airplane approached from the southwest, near the top of the canyon. He reported that initially he didn't see the airplane, but could only hear it flying down the east flank of the fire. Shortly thereafter, he reported seeing "…a big ball of fire several hundred feet below me, and thought he [the pilot] must have hit something." A second witness, a helicopter pilot who was flying in an area approximately 1.5 miles east of the
Probable cause
Failure to maintain adequate clearance from terrain while dropping fire retardant. Factors include low visibility with smoke.
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Browse: Idaho · Rockwell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
