Quoted Text
Two Die in Crash Fighting Colo. Fire
The Associated Press
Jul 19 2002 11:35AM
LYONS, Colo. (AP) - Bystanders and firefighters looked on in horror as an air tanker disintegrated into flames and crashed while battling a 1,200-acre wildfire near Denver, killing both crew members.
The crew members' names were not immediately released. The crash prompted all firefighting planes nationwide to be grounded for 48 hours while it is investigated.
Ground crews were left somber and shaken. ``I feel pretty sick,'' said Dave Sharman, 42, a volunteer with the Allenspark Fire District. ``Whether you're on the ground or in the air, you're all part of a team. We just lost part of the team.''
The four-engine PB4Y plane had spent the day dropping fire retardant on the flames and was carrying 2,000 gallons of retardant when it crashed, Forest Service spokeswoman Terri Gates said.
Safstrom was in a group of 15 bystanders who saw the plane break up. ``There was a bright flash of flame on the left wing. The wing came off and after that he spiraled down,'' Safstrom said.
Really a shame to see this kind of accident.
I didn't know they were still using Privateers. (This is a Privateer, right?)These airframes must be about 60 years old by now. Anyone out there know much about them?
Steve
