5 p.m. MDT July 11, 2021
File photo, example of a King Air 90GTx. This is not the aircraft that crashed.The Bureau of Land Management has released the names of the two men killed July 10 in the crash of an air attack aircraft in Arizona.
The incident occurred at about noon during initial attack efforts on the Cedar Basin Fire, which is 14 miles east of Wikieup in northwestern Arizona.
Pilot Matthew Miller, 48, and Air Tactical Group Supervisor Jeff Piechura, 62, were on board a Beechcraft King Air C-90 aircraft conducting visual reconnaissance and aviation command and control over the fire. Mr. Miller was a fire pilot with Falcon Executive Aviation, Inc. contracted by the U.S. Forest Service. Mr. Piechura was an employee with the Coronado National Forest. Their remains have been recovered from the accident site.
Often eyewitness accounts are wrong.
But, the Arizona Republic interviewed a woman who saw the aircraft from her home coming down at a “steep angle” and then “slam into the ground.” An hour later she and her husband drove to an area near the crash. They said Bureau of Land Management employees told them they they witnessed a wing fall off the plane in the air before it crashed.
We are aware of four other wildland fire related aircraft crashes in North America this year in a 46-day period, for a total of 7 fatalities:
- A helicopter went into Lake Shastina July 7 while working on the Lava Fire in Northern California. The pilot swam away.
- The pilot of a helicopter that crashed while fighting a fire in Alberta, Canada was killed when the Bell 212 went down June 28.
- A helicopter crashed and burned while working on the Deep Creek Canyon Fire in Montana June 15. Everyone walked away.
- Four were killed in the May 25 crash of a helicopter at Leesburg, Florida.
In 2020 during a 49-day period that began July 7 there were six crashes of firefighting aircraft â three helicopters and three air tankers. In addition, three members of the crew of a C-130 from the U.S. died when their air tanker crashed January 23, 2020 while fighting a bushfire in New South Wales, Australia.
Update at 8 a.m. MDT July 12, 2021
Below is the brief preliminary Accident Notification from the FAA, published July 12, 2021:
7 Comments
No. No….no ..this is not happening..no.
Miller as well?
Just not right.
I got to gather myself and get on gathering the data asap.
Noooo.
No.
This sucks.
I am so saddened by this…
No.
I will make sure you both are shown the upmost respect and TRUTH… sucks. Praying you and your families see a real report not a SAIR or CRaP…CRP…or a learning review… but the facts.
đ˘
“Flint”, your comments are out of line. The DOI and FS took action this morning to prohibit operation of all Beechcraft C-90s on contract with wildland agencies, until they get more information about the cause of yesterday’s accident. They also are supporting the decision of aircrews who decided not to fly today and those personnel associated with the incident to take time off if necessary…
Steve, can you link, or give a location for directive(s) that prohibit C90 ops please? Is it only C90s, or all 90 series? Thanks
Flint , I at first wanted to tear you apart personally for your comments⌠however a cool head prevailed. You want a visceral and emotional response. You can take many different views on this tragedy and spin however you want. The fact of the matter is a firing or a hiring doesnât bring our brothers home.
The aviation house of fire and aviation has risks just as any other facet or activity we partake in. In this instance as in every aviation related accident they are more pronounced and vivid.
I ask that in the future you take people such as myself into consideration when you wantingly post something dramatic. The people that are hurt from the loss of their friend/ family members / co-workers. You have done no good for the overall benefit of the discussion.
Too many. No matter the arguable âwhyâ – itâs too many, and way too early. Letâs get this reeled in before it becomes more.
Flint…..I don’t know where your coming from, but making a statement that “your program kills more people than cancer” is WAY out of line. I’ve been associated with aerial firefighting for 32 years and yes it is a very dangerous occupation, but all efforts to be as safe as possible are taken seriously. Not any individual person can be held responsible, there are too many variables. Enough said.
James, the ridiculous comment was removed, since it violated our rules.
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