Small Engine Air Tanker Pilot Has a Controlled Eme
Incident: Butler 2 Wildland Fire
Released: 9/17/2007
About 1:10 PM today a single engine air tanker assigned to the Butler 2 Fire had an internal engine warning light come on and lost power. The pilot determined that he did not have enough time to land at Big Bear Airport and initiated an emergency landing in a vacant field off of Fox Farm Road. At the end of the landing the wheels collapsed and the aircraft came to a stop on its belly and wing. The pilot walked away from the aircraft with no injuries.
The site was secured and emergency medical support was provided by Big Bear Lake and Big Bear City. The accident is under the jurisdiction of San Bernardino County Sheriff.
A "Safety Stand-down" was initiated by the incident management team managing the Butler 2 Fire, which involved stopping air operations until 230 PM for people involved in air operations activities to pause for a reflection on air safety.
The loss of the plane will not adversely affect fire fighting activities on the Butler 2 Fire.
