But What Did Lead To Fatal Crash Still Not Clear

An inflight breakup was not to blame for an April 2005 accident involving a Lockheed P-3B Orion aerial firebomber near Chico, CA. That's the ruling of the National Transportation Safety Board, which issued its Probable Cause report on the accident last week.

Also not to blame in the accident were any engine or control problems, nor were weather or lighting conditions at the time deemed unsafe by the board. The plane's three-person crew, who lost their lives when one of the plane's wingtips impacted terrain during a practice run, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

So... what did cause the accident? That will remain unclear... with the NTSB citing "terrain clearance was not maintained while maneuvering for undetermined reasons" as the probable cause of the crash. The NTSB says mountainous terrain was also a factor.

As Aero-News reported, the four-engine, former Navy anti-submarine plane was operated by Chico-based Aero Union Corporation as an aerial water bomber. The aircraft went down in the Lassen National Forest on April 20, 2005, immediately following a fire retardant training drop.

FMI: Read The Full NTSB Probable Cause Report