PB4Y2 Tanker Charlie 50 crash site(photo heavy!)

[steve dickey]

Been wanting to hike out to this one for some time and had a chance this past weekend.
The link at the bottom describes a little of the accident. I'm no expert but it looks like the way
the tail is sitting and the outer wing panel across the canyon that the airplane was traveling
uphill, is that normal procedure?

Last edited by steve dickey on Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

[steve dickey]

Part 2

































Info link:
http://arizonawrecks.com/wrecksfrombradgray/bradpinalenopb4y2.html

Anybody have any pics of Charlie 50?

[Lightjug]

Very interesting - thanks for sharing

[p51]

I'm surprised nobody's made of with several of those pieces.

[ALOHADAVE]

More info regarding this crash site. It is not easy to get to.
N7237C (Charlie 50), wreckage remains largely undisturbed on federal land in southern Arizona and USFS is not keen on removal of what is left of the airframe pending an environmental impact study. About 25' of tail section and control surfaces and outer wing panels are the most recognizable pieces that still remain. The cockpit section was destroyed in the impact, which killed the father and son flight team working a fire in the area in their Super Privateer. It's not likely that this will be removed anytime soon as USFS sees it as a memorial to the aerial firefighters killed in the line of duty, and the size and weight of the items remaining on the hillside are beyond the safe lifting limitations of a Bell JetRanger or similar utility helicopter of "affordable" operating cost.

T&G Aviation had two Privateers, Charlie 30 and Charlie 50. The Stells had done a drop and were turning back around to make another pass in a canyon when they ran out of altitude in the warm, thin air. Reportedly, the plane was still heavy with retardent and they caught a wintip on some trees. The result was an unfortunate loss to the aerial firefighting community of a skilled pilot and his 20-something son, who had the makings of a successful career in front of him

At one time Mr. Sathre had visions of recovering the tail section and restoring what was left to take it to the annual PB4Y-2 crew reunions he was hosting at the time, but for reasons previously discussed this never came to pass.

[Mr Widgeon]

N7237C in all her former glory.

[Michel Lemieux]

Status: Final
Date: Thursday 27 June 1974

.........40 years and the plywood floorboard still looks good!!!!!

Must have been an horrible last moment for the father and son.

Tks for sharing.

[steve dickey]

I'm surprised nobody's made off with several of those pieces.

Getting there is very difficult, sorta of a trail to it but most of the time bushwhacking it!
From the road its down then up and back down again, at 8500 ft I don't want to be hauling anything out but my own butt!! I'm sure the good stuff has already been hauled off as I didn't see anything of real value except one really good intake scoop but it probably weighs 20lbs! I'm not gonna haul it out!!
Oh yeah and hauling in tools, you'd need a pack mule!

Mr Widgeon; thanks for the great pic!

[CoastieJohn]

Anybody have any pics of Charlie 50?

Steve,

Did you by chance locate the data plate? I'm being told there is another N7237C registered out there.

There was a second N7237C and it was also a PB4Y-2 (P4Y-2) and carried US Civil Registration that was issued on May 9, 1994 and it also (according to FAA records) boasted a serial number of 59763. ALL IDENTICAL to Tanker C50.....

......Current FAA records indicate the second C50 has an expiration date of 10/31/2014 and is officially listed as expired as of yesterday (11/12/14)

Just curious, thanks.....John

[steve dickey]

Anybody have any pics of Charlie 50?

Steve,

Did you by chance locate the data plate? I'm being told there is another N7237C registered out there.

There was a second N7237C and it was also a PB4Y-2 (P4Y-2) and carried US Civil Registration that was issued on May 9, 1994 and it also (according to FAA records) boasted a serial number of 59763. ALL IDENTICAL to Tanker C50.....

......Current FAA records indicate the second C50 has an expiration date of 10/31/2014 and is officially listed as expired as of yesterday (11/12/14)

Just curious, thanks.....John

John; being an A&P I looked under the horizontals to where most data tags are riveted but did not see any empty holes where one might have been, a lot of corporate jets have them under the tail on the bottom. The tail that is up there you'd have to dig to look under it!! Its wedged in by the trees, and its heavy But as far as I know B-17's, B-29's have them near the cockpit or entrance door from what I've seen. B-24's or PB4Y's the same? That I don't know. If that is the case then it would have been destroyed in the crash.
Can someone enlighten? Any pics of data plate location for PB4Y's?
If that is the case

[CoastieJohn]

Thanks Steve.....a little bit of a mystery forming.

[Matt Gunsch]

Having the data tag under the horizontal is a recent event, required to help combat drug runners, a firebomber would not have one there unless it was in service from the mid 80s.

[turretguy]

Great crash site report and nice photo of C50 in action.

The manufacturer's data plate for the airplane showing the bureau number was on the instrument panel, pilot's side, to the lower right of the control wheel.

There are various sub-assembly tags, mostly phenolic in the tail, above where it joins the fuselage, and various other areas scattered around.

Thanks for the post.
Nick

[T J Johansen]

While browsing the net I came across this photo of N7237C from 1971. Then I remembered this thread and decided to post a link to it. Could have posted it in the PB4Y-2 survivors thread but found this one more apt.

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1462988/

T J

[makin' boost]

N7237C in all her former glory.

It looks like she was running P+W R-2800's or what ? in this photo.