Air tanker crashes and second makes wheels-up landing

[Chris Kennedy]

Not good news.

http://wildfiretoday.com/2012/06/03/two-air-tanker-incidents-one-crash-and-one-wheels-up-landing/

http://fox13now.com/2012/06/03/air-tanker-fighting-white-rock-fire-crashes-in-hamblin-valley/

[Ned Harris]

Chris: thanks for the news update and for posting the links. It is a sad day.

[FelipeG]

http://missoulian.com/news/local/updated-killed-in-crash-of-missoula-based-firefighting-air-tanker/article_18823d46-ade2-11e1-a231-001a4bcf887a.html

They identified the pilots who got killed in the crash.

[Jeff D. Welker]

Tanker 55 on a better day.

[Chris Kennedy]

This page has a not very good video of Tanker 55 landing on two wheels and the left jet pod.

It also has one of Ned's photos on it.

http://wildfiretoday.com/2012/06/04/video-of-tanker-55-landing-with-malfunctioning-landing-gear/

[Joe Copalman]

Much better video of it here: http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/rough-landing-for-air-tanker-29551724.html

[Jay Beckman]

Not trying to insinuate I could do any better under the circumstances but I have to wonder why they chose to land failed side down?

Everything I've ever been taught or read about a one-wheel landings says to hold the failed side off the ground as long as possible.  If there was an alternate with more favorable winds available [and I realize there may not have been one], they caused more damage than was necessary by landing in winds that forced them to land failed side down.

[Chris Kennedy]

Good thing they didn't have a fire. It sure took the fire trucks a long time to get out there. I wonder if the Skycrane was going to make a water drop if they did have a fire.

[Jay Beckman]

That would go down as one of the heights of irony, eh?

"Air Tanker Burns At Base!"   

[Ned Harris]

There is a good chance one of my Tanker 11 images will be broadcast this evening on the ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.

[Chris Kennedy]

Saw your photo, Ned, but I didn't see any credit.

You can see the show online at

http://abcnews.go.com/watch/world-news-with-diane-sawyer/SH5585921/VD55208210/world-news-64-queen-elizabeths-diamond-jubilee-prince-philip-hospitalized

It's the second story.

[FelipeG]

Jay,

As far as I know this was already the alternate airport, as they decided to fly up to their base instead of the airport they were flying out of.

It looks like everything went good until the plane did that almost-180 turn and hit the dirt.

[Ned Harris]

Chris: They did indeed use my photo but without the promised photo credit. Bummer.

[Scott Youmans]

Ned, The check is in the mail...

[BillOz]

Ned,

The photo I saw  said photo courtesy of Ned Harris.