Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Super Privateer near Estes park: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 2002 at 1840 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N7620C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Broomfield - Broomfield
MSN:
66260
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Tanker 123
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3658
Captain / Total hours on type:
1328.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
6689
Copilot / Total hours on type:
913
Aircraft flight hours:
8346
Circumstances:
The airplane was maneuvering to deliver fire retardant when its left wing separated. Aircraft control was lost and the airplane crashed into mountainous terrain. A witness on the ground took a series of photographs that showed the air tanker's left wing separating at the wing root and the remaining airplane entering a 45-degree dive to the ground in a counterclockwise roll. An examination of the airplane wreckage revealed extensive areas of preexisting fatigue in the left wing's forward spar lower spar cap, the adjacent spar web, and the adjacent area of the lower wing skin. The portion of the wing containing the fatigue crack was obscured by the retardant tanks and would not have been detectable by an exterior visual inspection. An examination of two other air tankers of the same make and model revealed the area where the failure occurred on the accident airplane was in a location masked by the airplane's fuselage construction. The airplane was manufactured in 1945 and was in military service until 1956. It was not designed with the intention of operating as a firefighting airplane. In 1958, the airplane was converted to civilian use as an airtanker and served in that capacity until the time of the accident. The investigation revealed that the owner developed service and inspection procedures for the airtanker; however, the information contained in the procedures did not adequately describe where and how to inspect for critical fatigue cracks. The procedures were based on U.S Navy PB4Y-2 airplane structural repair manuals that had not been revised since 1948.
Probable cause:
The inflight failure of the left wing due to fatigue cracking in the left wing's forward spar and wing skin. A factor contributing to the accident was inadequate maintenance procedures to detect fatigue cracking.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in Ramona

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1980
Operator:
Registration:
N2870G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ramona - Ramona
MSN:
66304
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Tanker 122
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Ramona Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. While both pilots escaped uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on takeoff after a tire burst.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer off Port Hardy

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1975 at 0015 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6813D
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Anchorage - Ketchikan - Greybull
MSN:
59876
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
Tanker 125
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1482
Circumstances:
During 1975, '13D was under contract to the US Department of the Interior and based at Anchorage, Alaska. Total flight time was approximately 1475 hours. On Friday, 8 August 197 5, the aircraft was being flown back to the lower 48 States from Anchorage with an eventual destination of Greybull, Wyoming. One engine had been shut down due to its running rough, and we understand that a planned fuel stop at Ketchikan, Alaska, was missed because of bad weather. Shortly after midnight on Saturday, 9 August, after seven hours of flight, BuNo 59876 ran out of fuel, and the engines that were still in operation began to quit! Luckily, they were over the northern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, and below was the 5000 foot paved runway at Port Hardy. Unbelievably , during final approach with only one engine still running, the pilot considered he was too high to land and attempted to go-around! The aircraft struck the ground during the turn, crashed through the airport perimeter fence, crossed the rock and driftwood strewn beach, and came to rest in the ocean, approximately 100 yards offshore! When the radio operator in the control tower lost contact with the plane, he immediately sounded the alarm in the airport fire station. Since no aircraft, nor fire, could be seen, it was felt the plane must have gone down short of the airport, and a search was started in that area. When the aircraft finally came to a stop, the two-man crew was unsure of where they were and what had happened. Almost immediately, the cockpit started to fill with water, and the men struggled to climb out a roof escape hatch. After standing on top of the aircraft for a short while, they spotted a seat cushion floating by, grabbed it, and swam the hundred or so yards to shore. When they arrived on land, their legs were so cold they could not stand. After a short rest, the crew scrambled in the dark over logs and through bushes, and made it to the airport boundary fence. During this same time period, the fire and rescue crews decided the plane must have gone off the runway and into the ocean, so they returned to the airport to resume their search. As the pilot and copilot approached the fence, they saw an emergency vehicle speed toward them down the runway and then continue on by until it stopped at the hole in the fence where the plane had crashed through on its way to the ocean. A short time later, another truck arrived. They were able to get the attention of the driver by shouting and waving. The flight crew was taken to the fire hall where they were given blankets and hot drinks until an ambulance took them to the hospital for examination. Both the pilot and copilot received only minor injuries during their ordeal. The pilot was fired by H&P, but the copilot remained with the company, only to be killed in the crash of a C119 during 1980. N6813D received substantial damage to its nose gear and underbelly, and the left wing tip and flap were destroyed.
Source: http://pb4y-2.org/pdf/all.pdf
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer near Safford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1974 at 0726 LT
Registration:
N7237C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Tucson - Tucson
MSN:
59763
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
Tanker 50
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Circumstances:
The crew departed Tucson Airport in the early morning on a firefighting mission in the region of Safford. While flying at low height over the forest in fire, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a mountain slope. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged the clearance with ground. The following factors were reported:
- High obstructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in Wenatchee

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1972 at 1818 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N6816D
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wenatchee - Wenatchee
MSN:
59905
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10600
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Circumstances:
Following a fire fighting mission in the region of Wenatchee, the crew was returning to Wenatchee-Pangborn Airport. On short final, the airplane crashed in flames short of runway threshold and came to rest. Both pilots were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in Diamond Lake

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1970 at 1415 LT
Registration:
N3191G
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Medford - Medford
MSN:
59754
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12707
Captain / Total hours on type:
14.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a firefighting mission and departed Medford Airport around noon. En route, three engines stopped and/or lost power and the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed into Diamond Lake. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, both crew members were injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Jettisoned load,
- Failure of two or more engine,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Complete power loss on three engines,
- No fuel gauges on aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in Greybull: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1969 at 1450 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N1911H
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Greybull - Greybull
MSN:
59792
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
6000
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Greybull on a firefighting mission. While flying at low height, the aircraft went through the smoke when it struck tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Improper in-flight decisions or planning on part of the flying crew. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Obstructions to vision,
- Hidden obstruction,
- High obstructions,
- Right wing down hit highest trees in flight path.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated P4Y-2G Privateer in McGrath: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1968 at 1757 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N7974A
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
McGrath - McGrath
MSN:
66306
YOM:
1944
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1334
Captain / Total hours on type:
245.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission near McGrath. While flying at low height, the airplane stuck the slope of a mountain and crashed, killing all four occupants.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command misjudged altitude and clearance, causing the aircraft to struck the slope of a mountain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer near Doi Tung: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
423
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a supply mission to Kuomintang guerrillas in east Burma. While flying at low height, the four engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Burma Air Force Hawker Sea Fury. Two crew members were able to bail out and were later recovered. Out of control, the Privateer crashed in the jungle located in a mountainous region of Doi Tung. Four other crew members were killed. The Burmese Hawker Sea Fury registered UB-466 was hit by return fire and crashed shorty later, killing its pilot Noel Peters.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Burmese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated P4Y-2 Privateer in Prescott

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1959
Registration:
N6884C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
66284
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.