Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

CAL FIRE Air Tankers Cleared To Fly

  •  Ed Joyce 
Friday, October 10, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
usdagov / Flickr
 

usdagov / Flickr

Cal Fire's fleet of 22 firefighting air tankers are no longer grounded. The planes were on a safety stand down following the crash of a plane Tuesday in Yosemite National Park.

The Tuesday crash killed pilot Geoffrey Hunt of San Jose, as he was about to drop retardant on the Dog Rock Fire near Yosemite's west entrance.

The safety stand-down was intended to give officials time to inspect the remaining aircraft and allow other pilots time to recover.

“The National Transportation Safety Board advised the department that their investigation has found no structural failures or aging aircraft issues were involved in the tanker 81 accident," said Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott

Pimlott called it a "difficult week" for California's firefighting agency.

"Words cannot express the sorrow that we all feel for the Hunt family, or my pride in all of those who make this organization at Cal Fire what it is,” said Pimlott.

1010-ken-pimlott- cal fire.jpg

Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott spoke at a news conference in Sacramento Friday. He talked about Geoffrey Hunt of San Jose, who died when his air tanker crashed while working the Dog Rock Fire Tuesday in Yosemite National Park.

While the tankers were grounded, U.S. Forest Service planes were used to help Cal Fire battle fires in Placer County and in Yosemite National Park.

The NTSB investigation at the crash site is over but investigators still must recover some of the wreckage.

“Our initial findings we have seen on site, tell us it is not a mechanical issue,” said Josh Cawthra, NTSB Aviation Accident Investigator.

He said the NTSB’s preliminary report would be published on the agency website “within five business days.”

“A typical investigation can take from six months to a year, possibly even longer,” said Cawthra. “We look at man, machine and environment – it’s a very complex investigation.”

Cawthra said Hunt had made an initial drop of retardant on the Dog Rock Fire and had returned to base and reloaded.

“He was on final approach to drop the retardant,” said Cawthra.

1010-Josh -Crawthra

NTSB Investigator Josh Cawthra spoke with reporters at a news conference in Sacramento Friday.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Courtesy of Geoffrey "Craig" Hunt's Family / Cal Fire / Facebook

    Memorial Service Held For Pilot Killed In Crash During Dog Rock Fire

    Wednesday, October 22, 2014
    Firefighters and family members held a tribute Tuesday for the pilot who was killed in a crash during the Dog Rock Fire.
  • Yosemite National Park / Facebook

    Dog Rock Fire Update: Firefighters Make Significant Progress; Highway 140 Expected To Open Sunday

    Friday, October 10, 2014
    UPDATE: 11:40 P.M. SUNDAY- Containment at 95 percent, with 311 acres burned. The Highway 140 entrance into Yosemite National Park re-opened Sunday.

Ed Joyce

Former All Things Considered Anchor & Reporter

Ed Joyce is a former reporter and All Things Considered news anchor at Capital Public Radio. Ed is a veteran journalist with experience in a variety of news positions across all media platforms, including radio, television, web and print.   Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Damian Dovarganes / AP Photo

Fast food workers could get collective bargaining, better workplace standards under new legislation

August 9, 2022

Bloomberg / Getty Images

Covid sewage surveillance labs join the hunt for monkeypox

August 10, 2022

Chris Nichols / CapRadio

Sacramento County bans homeless camps along the American River Parkway and near schools, libraries

August 11, 2022

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: CDC drops quarantine, distancing guidelines

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

‘Overwhelming’ inflation affecting Sacramento restaurants — and chicken spots may be hit hardest

Stalled U.S. Forest Service project could have protected California town from Caldor Fire destruction

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: CDC drops quarantine, distancing guidelines

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

‘Overwhelming’ inflation affecting Sacramento restaurants — and chicken spots may be hit hardest

Stalled U.S. Forest Service project could have protected California town from Caldor Fire destruction

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.