Kruger Rock Fire (Estes Park) and crashed aircraft

[KE5ZBG]

Larimer County Emergency Services (Fire, EMS, SAR)

Estes Valley Fire

Contact was lost with a Single Engine Air Tanker during firefighting operations over the Kruger Rock Fire near Estes Park. Crews are currently searching for the aircraft.

MMA (N327SF, WLDLD27) now overhead on 166.9125 (CO5 Air/Ground 09)

WildCAD

 

[natedawg1604]

Damn I just heard about this, are they gonna send out Civil Air Patrol? I'm not sure they would do much good at night, or how many of them are even equipped or certified for IFR.

 

[KE5ZBG]

Latest analysis from AFRCC puts the crash site near Granite Gulch campground & Homestead Meadows trailhead.

There are plans for requesting a rotary aircraft for dawn if they are unable to locate.

 

[MtnBiker2005]

Could be this aircraft ?

N802NZ / T860

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=aaea8f&lat=40.323&lon=-105.415&zoom=9.8&showTrace=2021-11-17

N802NZ Flight Tracking and History 16-Nov-2021 (KFNL - FlightAware

Track N802NZ flight from Northern Colorado Regional to Longmont, CO

flightaware.com

 

[KE5ZBG]

Now discussing getting aircraft from Aurora or CO Springs. The MMA departing for now.

Latest coordinates:
40.333056, -105.408611

Could be this aircraft ?

N802NZ / T860

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=aaea8f&lat=40.323&lon=-105.415&zoom=9.8&showTrace=2021-11-17

N802NZ Flight Tracking and History 16-Nov-2021 (KFNL - FlightAware

Track N802NZ flight from Northern Colorado Regional to Longmont, CO

flightaware.com

That is indeed the aircraft in question.

 

[KE5ZBG]

As of 2153 the aircraft wreckage been located.

 

[KE5ZBG]

Moving all traffic from LC MA2 to LC Ops Secure due to the "amount of people listening."

Most traffic has been on MAC 7 (4006) and LC Fire (9157)

 

[KE5ZBG]

Only hearing minimal traffic now.

 

[MtnBiker2005]

Date: 16-NOV-2021
Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss
Owner/operator: CO Fire Aviation
Registration: N802NZ *
MSN: 802A-0593
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1

Narrative:
The aircraft crashed during its first night fire-fighting flight in Larimer County south of Estes Park, Colorado. The pilot was killed.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/269627

 

[aprswatcher]

TFR issued for Kruger Rock fire.
Listen for aircraft on 123.125 am.
73, Rex

 

[KE0HIN]

My guess is the nighttime flying will be stopped and re evaluated nationwide I know out west it took quite a few years to OK this , for obvious reasons

 

[KE5ZBG]

Law enforcement on scene had mentioned that the crash site may be impacted by the fire if winds continue out of the West.

 

[MtnBiker2005]

Aviation expert weighs in on air tanker crash

The flight was believed to be the first time in the US a fixed-wing plane was used to fight a wildfire at night using night-vision goggles.-----More local vi...

youtu.be

Air tanker crashes Tuesday night at Kruger Rock Fire - Fire Aviation

The Single Engine Air Tanker was equipped for night-flying

fireaviation.com

Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss, N802NZ: Fatal accident occurred November 16, 2021 in Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final repor...

www.kathrynsreport.com

Reddit - Dive into anything

www.reddit.com

 

[KE5ZBG]

Looks like the one that captured the crash was taken down.

Apparently the first time NVGs had been used to fight fire at night

 

[MtnBiker2005]

I think the video was re-uploaded

 

[KE0HIN]

Looks like the one that captured the crash was taken down.

Apparently the first time NVGs had been used to fight fire at night

False in colorado i think that is the case but southern CA has done this for a while now