P-2 Neptune crash in Stockton, UT

[hitman]

My dad is a DoD security chief at Tooele Chemical Depot North Area at Dugway, UT. Yesterday he damn near got hit by a fire fighting aircraft that crashed into a mountain.

 

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6272314

 

Ive seen this same aircraft at the airport I attended college at numerous times fighting fires in Colorado Springs, or just stopping by for refueling going to other hot spots. It was a P-2 Neptune rigged for fire bombing.

 

Kinda hits home, you know...I talked with this crew before last summer when we had a tour of their aircraft. Even worse when your family member in a different state damn near gets hit by the same aircraft. THe NTSB has no clue yet as to what happened, but visibility was about 100' if not any better, and the hill it crashed into is kinda funky when it comes to topo maps...its altitude isnt definately known. 3 other aircraft crashed into that same mountain side.

____

[Copperhead]

I was just wondering whether it was possible to install some form of FLIR or terrain radar warning device on these planes if they couldn't fly at a higher altitude.

[Pilotasso]

FLIR doesnt see through cloud or mist.

 

Sad that it happened. Condolences.

[hitman]

On top of that, the aircraft being so old and the tech relatively new, probably be an upgrade that cost more than the aircraft is worth for all its intended purposes. THat and you dont really need a FLIR fighting fires.

[Groove]

Sad news, im glad your dad didn't got hurt though!

[Yoti980]

Bad news... I know it would be costly but some kind active radar topography mapping system would help stop things like this from happening... Kinda like the forward and upward looking HF sonars used on submarines by drawing a representation of what it sees via the sound or radio wave reflections in this case... Dang now I feel like loading up some Sub Command / Dangerous Waters lol

[Namenlos Ein]

[GGTharos]

You don't need FLIR or Radar. A good GPS unit with an accurate map will do you fine.