All of California's remaining 22 S-2T air tankers have been grounded in the wake of t

[scannerbuff999]

All of California's remaining 22 S-2T air tankers have been grounded in the wake of the crash Tuesday that killed a pilot, California fire officials said today.
"We're evaluating all aircraft and evaluating the status of pilots," said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director.
Once the aircraft is cleared, it will be up to the pilots to decide whether they want to fly, he said.
The air tanker crashed while battling a fire at Yosemite National Park. The body of the pilot will be recovered today.
The pilot, whose identity hasn't been released until all his family has been notified, was found near the wreckage of the S-2T air ta

 

[scannerbuff999]

just found out it was tanker 81 that crached

 

[scannerbuff999]

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
CONTACT: Daniel Berlant
(916) 651-FIRE (3473) @CALFIRE_PIO
RELEASE
DATE: October 7, 2014
Crash of Airtanker Claims the Life of Pilot
Sacramento - This evening emergency personnel were able to access the crash site of a CAL FIRE airtanker that had crashed near Yosemite National Park and determined that the pilot on board had died. The CAL FIRE airtanker (Tanker 81) based out of the Hollister Air Attack Base had been fighting the Dog Rock Fire near El Portal when officials lost contact with it late this afternoon.
The pilot’s family has requested we withhold release of the pilot’s name until all immediate family can be notified.
“This crash underscores just how inherently dangerous wildland firefighting is and the job is further compounded this year by extreme fire conditions,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “We have secured the crash site and will be cooperating with the NTSB on their investigation.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the pilot’s family during this difficult time,” said Jeff Cavarra, program director for DynCorp International.
CAL FIRE operates 22 other Grumman S-2T airtankers across California

 

[scannerbuff999]

The pilot of the S-2T that died in the air tanker crash on October 7 has been identified as Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt, age 62, of San Jose. He was a 13 year veteran pilot with DynCorp International. DynCorp has the contract to maintain and operate the 23 S-2T air tankers for CAL FIRE. Mr. Hunt was attempting to drop retardant on the Dog Rock Fire near Yosemite National Park in California when the accident occurred.
Geoffrey "Craig" Hunt.

Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt.

“We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Craig,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “We know wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous job, but Craig made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Craig’s family during this difficult time,” said Jeff Cavarra, program director for DynCorp.

Mr. Hunt’s body was watched over Tuesday night by fire and rescue personnel and was recovered Wednesday morning. A National Park Service honor guard then transferred Mr. Hunt to CAL FIRE personnel.

Immediately after the crash, CAL FIRE grounded their remaining air tankers, which is standard procedure after a serious accident.

A graphic photo of the flaming wreckage falling down the steep slope has been posted at a rock climbing forum.

The S-2T air tanker, registration number N449DF, was designated Tanker 81, one of 23 S-2Ts that are maintained and flown by DynCorp for CAL FIRE. The agency also has one spare that is used to fill in as needed when an aircraft is undergoing maintenance. CAL FIRE hires their own pilots for their 11 UH-1H Super Huey helicopters, but they are also maintained by DynCorp.

The last time a CAL FIRE air tanker crashed was in 2001, when two tankers collided while fighting a fire in Mendocino County, killing both pilots, Daniel Berlant, spokesperson for CAL FIRE said.

The agency had another plane crash in 2006, when a battalion chief and a pilot were killed in the crash of an air attack plane in Tulare County.

The S-2 first flew in 1952 and the U.S. Navy discontinued the use of them in 1976. They were used for detecting enemy ships and submarines and for dropping torpedoes. The ones currently being used by CAL FIRE were converted from piston to turbine engines between 1999 and 2005. Some media outlets are incorrectly reporting that the Tanker that crashed on Tuesday was built in 2001. That may be the date that it was converted to turbine engines and was given the new model name S-2F3 Turbo Tracker. They are now commonly referred to as S-2T, with the “T” standing for turbine engine.

More information about the crash and the Dog Rock Fire is at Wildfire Today.

Our sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and coworkers of Mr. Hunt.

 

[SCPD]

My wife just told me that the tanker hit a tree top. She said the FAA determined this. I don't know the source of this info yet. I would have thought such information would be released by the NTSB.

 

[davedaver1]

Word is that the CDF tankers are up again, at least on the fire in Applegate. I have not been able to confirm this.

A tribute to pilot is on the CalFIre website: DynCorp Pilot - Geoffrey "Craig" Hunt

 

[ScannerDude244]

My dad that works for public works told me that the BEU fighter fighters here in town Soledad station told him that they worked with Hunter at the Hollister air base and they said the wing broke off before he hit the side of the mountain.

 

[scannerbuff999]

cdf say that were going to run inspection on all the S2
so some of them must have passed

 

[SCPD]

Of all the on duty fatalities, for me, those involving wildland fire and the deaths of USFS LEO's and DOI Rangers are the worst. State and local officer fatalities piss me off as so often it is the result of a subhuman.

It surprises me that a wing fell off. These S2's, as I recall, were built from ground up for Cal Fire for retardant use and it wasn't that long ago.

 

[W6KRU]

Of all the on duty fatalities, for me, those involving wildland fire and the deaths of USFS LEO's and DOI Rangers are the worst. State and local officer fatalities piss me off as so often it is the result of a subhuman.

It surprises me that a wing fell off. These S2's, as I recall, were built from ground up for Cal Fire for retardant use and it wasn't that long ago.

The S-2s were ASWs from the early 50s: Grumman S-2 Tracker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[SCPD]

The S-2s were ASWs from the early 50s: Grumman S-2 Tracker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The originals were owned by the Forest Service and leased to Cal Fire for $1 or something. I've heard that they had a Forest Service property plate in each of them.

This is from Wikipedia:

In 1987, CAL FIRE entered into an agreement with Marsh Aviation of Mesa, Arizona to build a prototype S-2T. This prototype was placed in service and used at several bases. The success of the prototype led to acquisition of 26 S-2E/G aircraft in 1996. The E/G series S-2 was larger and newer. It could haul 1200 gallons of retardant with two TPE-331 GR turboprop engines at speeds in excess of 200 kn (370.4 km/h). A contract for building 23 of the new S-2T airtankers was entered into, with 13 delivered by the end of 2002, seven additional aircraft delivered and placed in service by the end of 2004 and the final three in 2005. As the new air tankers were delivered and placed in service, the original S-2As are retired.

CDF Aviation Management Program - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[scannerbuff999]

do you thing they are going to replace the down S2 are they any left around now

 

[ramal121]

The S-2s were ASWs from the early 50s: Grumman S-2 Tracker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

S-2s have been taken out of service.T-81 was a S-2T, a newer model. Believe built in the '80s although Cal Fire has newer ones than that.

 

[Kingscup]

The NTSB has determined that structureal failure or the age of the aircraft did not play a part of the crash so the rumors can end. The investigation is continuing.

 

[norcalbusa]

Sad to see when I drive by Hollister airport; Tanker 80 and Air Attack 460 is all that are been parked- a missing man indeed. Looks like the season is over now, haven't seen any CDF airware there for a week or so.