Man Pulled From the Water and Treated for Minor Injuries

On October 8, an Air Tractor AT-802A Fire Boss made a noseover landing while performing a routine proficiency flight over Cass County, Minnesota.

The aircraft is contracted to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for fire suppression operations.

The float plane departed from Brainerd/Crow Wing County Airport (BRD) at 1:47 pm. It went down just 15 minutes later into Inguadona Lake. The pilot and sole occupant, a 56-year-old man from Texas, sustained only minor injuries and was able to be treated on the scene.

Witnesses reported watching the plane hit the water, describing a splash sending water 30 to 40 feet up. Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk stated that emergency responders were quickly dispatched after bystanders alerted them of the crash. Upon arrival, they learned that several nearby boaters had already reached the wreckage and were able to pull the pilot out of the sinking aircraft.

The Fire Boss’s pontoons remained afloat and were towed to shore; however, its fuselage is currently buried under approximately 30 feet of water. Authorities are continuing efforts to recover the wreckage from the lake and damages have yet to be determined.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Minnesota DNR have opened an investigation into the accident.

The Minnesota DNR switched from its outdated and expensive CL-215 fleet to the Fire Boss in 2015. The four amphibious air tankers are operated by Aero Spray of Appleton, Minnesota. The Texas-made Fire Boss is equipped with Wipaire floats and can scoop about 800 gallons of water in only 12-15 seconds, allowing rapid emergency response.

FMI: www.dnr.state.mn.us