White Rock Air Tanker Fatalities 2012

Tanker 11, a P2V air tanker, departed the tanker base to conduct its second fire retardant drop of the day on the White Rock Fire, Utah. Upon arriving in the fire traffic area, Tanker 11 followed the lead airplane into the drop zone, which was located in a shallow valley. The lead airplane flew a shallow right turn onto final and then dropped to an altitude of 150 feet above the valley floor while approaching the intended drop zone. While making the right turn onto final behind the lead airplane, Tanker 11's right wing tip collided with terrain, which resulted in a rapid right yaw and subsequent impact with terrain. Both pilots aboard the aircraft, Ron Chambless and Todd Tompkins, were killed in the accident.

Fatality, Fixed Wing Incident or Accident