News & Columns > News Staff Member > Pilot Walks Away From Tanker Crash Landing

Pilot Walks Away From Tanker Crash Landing

By News Staff Member
Monday, September 17, 2007

Big Bear Lake Fire personnel attend to a firefighting tanker plane that made an emergency landing Monday while assigned to the Butler 2 Fire. Smoke from the Butler 2 Fire can be seen in the distance. (Photo by Jim Tunnell.)

Tanker 492 crash landed near Fox Farm Road and Sandalwood in Big Bear Lake at 1:12 pm. The pilot, Bill Penny of Phoenix, AZ, had an fuel warning light and alarm and was looking for an airport to land at, according to Beryl Shears, president of Western Pilot Service. Immediately after the warning, his engine lost power. Penny radioed Butler 2 Air Command, "I just had a engine failure, over the lake, going to put it in the field." He determined he didn't have enough altitude to reach Big Bear Airport and crash landed in a vacant field.

The wheels of the aircraft collapsed in the "hard landing" and the plane skidded to a stop on its belly, according to the US Forest Service. The pilot was reportedly out of the aircraft and walking around immediately after landing. Paramedics from Big Bear City responded, however Penny was not injured.

Tanker 492 is contracted to the California Department of Forestry from Western Pilot Service based in Phoenix, AZ. Prior to being assigned to the Butler 2 Fire, Tanker 492 was based in Bishop, CA, according to Shears. This as Penny's first year flying for Western Pilot Service. However, Penny has been flying for "quite a number of years" according to Shears and is an experienced pilot. Tanker 492 is a Air Tractor AT802 aircraft.

A perimeter has been set up around the crash scene for investigation. The accident is under investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

All air traffic on the Butler 2 Fire was suspended except for one lead plane and air tanker as a "Safety Stand-down." This allows for people involved in air operations and pilots to "pause and reflect on air safety," according to the Forest Service. However, this complicated firefighting efforts on the ground. All air traffic resumed at 2:30 pm. The Forest Service says that the loss of the tanker will not adversely affect firefighting operations on the Butler 2 Fire.