Coulson B737 airtanker down in Australia, pilots OK

[W5]

https://fireaviation.com/2023/02/06/coulson-tanker-down-in-western-australia-pilots-okay/

 

AuthorKelly AnderssonPosted onFebruary 6, 2023CategoriesFixed wingTags737, Coulson, perth, Western Australia

Two pilots walked away from an airtanker crash on Monday while fighting bushfires in Western Australia. Initial reports indicate that Coulson’s 737 took off from Busselton about 3:25 p.m. and went down about 4:40 p.m. in Fitzgerald River National Park, about 460 kilometres southeast of Perth. Both pilots were transported by helicopter to Ravensthorpe Health Service. ABC.net.au news reported that the pilots were not seriously injured. The Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) are conducting separate investigations into the crash.

The Alberni Valley News reported the investigators will interview pilots and then examine the wreck. “Initially, investigators will seek to interview the pilots and witnesses to understand the circumstances of the accident, and determine the accessibility of the accident site with the aim of conducting an on-site examination of the aircraft wreckage,” said the ATSB in a statement.

This is the second incident for Coulson Aviation during firefighting operations in Australia, after a C-130 heavy airtanker crashed in 2020, killing all three on board.

Tanker 139 — the 737 — had just been awarded a contract last month.

A news report by aerotime.aero said the 737 flew for more than 40 minutes before it crashed in the Fitzgerald River National Park. According to flightradar24.com, its last recorded altitude was 675 feet (205.7 meters) at 4:13 local time (UTC +8). This airtanker is a Coulson Flying Tankers 737-300 Fireliner registered as N619SW. The 737 was delivered new to Southwest Airlines in 1995 and was acquired by Coulson in 2019. It entered firefighting service in the U.S. after conversion in summer 2022, and it flew to Australia in December 2022.

Edited February 6, 2023 by W5

[Maverick]

Pretty short career as a tanker...

Great news the pilots getting out, though! That's rarely the case in tanker crashes.

[W5]

"Ran out of altitude, airspeed and ideas all at the same time"

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2023/report/ao-2023-008

[J.O.]

Juan Brown does his usual excellent analysis.

 

[Kip Powick]

Why no mention of the pilots flying time ( Total) ?

Why no mention of the pilots flying time on type ?

Why no mention of the experience  level  of these pilots  flying tanker operations?

In most all crashes I have read/researched, that information is at the onset of an investigation.

 

UNLESS...that info is not included in the PRELIMINARY ATSB .......that could be the reason ???