"A lack of communication and a sudden, unauthorized descent by one helicopter were behind a deadly crash that killed two firefighters and a contract pilot battling a Riverside County fire in 2023, according to a national investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board released its final report Thursday and concluded that the probable cause of the midair collision was poor judgment by one crew, who failed to comply with multiple safety procedures."
"California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Assistant Chief Joshua Bischof, 46, Cal Fire Capt. Tim Rodriguez, 44, and pilot Tony Sousa, 55, were killed in the incident Aug. 6, 2023. The trio were flying along with multiple other aerial units battling a small blaze outside Cabazon. The men were aboard a Bell 407 single-engine utility helicopter that departed Hemet-Ryan Airport, which was roughly 16 nautical miles from the blaze."
Poor judgment by one helicopter crew, including an unauthorized sudden descent and failure to follow safety procedures, caused a midair collision during firefighting operations on Aug. 6, 2023. Three people — Assistant Chief Joshua Bischof, Capt. Tim Rodriguez, and pilot Tony Sousa — died. The Bell 407 and a water-dropping Skycrane departed Hemet-Ryan Airport on separate routes toward the Cabazon blaze. Both aircraft were required to coordinate with a group supervisor before entering the designated firefighting area. Neither helicopter received a clear radio signal granting clearance to approach closer than 12 nautical miles to the fire or within seven miles of the fire traffic area. Mountainous terrain interfered with radio communications.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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