US EditionFlight crew didn’t follow Cal Fire protocol before helicopter crash that killed 3 in Cabazon, NTSB says
The Skycrane crew entered restricted airspace and exceeded altitude limits without supervisor clearance, violating Cal Fire protocols, contributing to the fatal collision that killed three crew members.
- On August 6, 2023, two helicopters collided above a Cabazon wildfire in Riverside County, killing three crew members including firefighters Tim Rodriguez and John Bischof and pilot Tony Sousa.
- The collision occurred because the Skycrane crew failed to follow Cal Fire protocols by not contacting supervisors and exceeding the approved 2,500-foot altitude in a hazardous, mountainous fire traffic area.
- The Bell 407 crew established communication and stayed at the cleared altitude while the Skycrane climbed above clearance, descended rapidly, and struck the Bell during a right descending turn near the fire zone boundary.
- Aviation attorney Gary Robb expressed gratitude for the NTSB's comprehensive review and determination of responsibility in this preventable helicopter collision, highlighting the need for accountability and valuable lessons to be drawn from the incident.
- In response to the crash, Cal Fire introduced a range of new protocols such as enhanced pilot training programs, revised communication procedures, and the implementation of standardized checklists, all aimed at preventing future accidents, while wrongful death claims remain ongoing.
21 Articles
21 Articles
California firefighting helicopter collision caused by pilot flying too high and making rapid descent, NTSB reports
Washington (CNN) — A firefighting helicopter crew’s decision to fly an altitude higher than they were cleared for and the subsequent rapid descent led to the deaths of three people in a midair collision in 2023, according to a final…
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Flight crew didn’t follow Cal Fire protocol before helicopter crash that killed 3 in Cabazon, NTSB says
A fire helicopter crew didn’t follow Cal Fire protocol before crashing into another helicopter, killing three people above a Cabazon wildfire in 2023, according to a report federal officials published Thursday, Sept. 11. The crew of the Sikorsky S64 “Skycrane” responding to the Broadway fire on Aug. 6, 2023, failed to contact a supervisor before flying above their approved altitude and then descending rapidly into congested airspace, where the h…
NTSB report finds human error caused deadly California helicopter collision
Federal investigators have determined that human error caused the 2023 mid-air collision between two firefighting helicopters that killed three people in Riverside County. The accident happened on Aug. 6, 2023, while crews were battling a 20-acre brush fire near Cabazon. The two aircraft, a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helitanker and a smaller Bell 407, collided at an altitude of approximately 2,500 feet, causing the Bell 407 to break apart and crash.…
NTSB releases final report on investigation into deadly Cabazon firefighter helicopter crash
CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) - The National Transportation Safety Board released its final report on an investigation into a helicopter crash that killed three firefighters in Cabazon in 2023. Cal Fire Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez, and contract pilot Tony Sousa were killed when two helicopters collided mid-air while battling a fire in
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