Federal investigators have determined that human error caused the 2023 mid-air collision between two firefighting helicopters that killed three people in Riverside County.
The accident happened on Aug. 6, 2023, while crews were battling a 20-acre brush fire near Cabazon. The two aircraft, a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helitanker and a smaller Bell 407, collided at an altitude of approximately 2,500 feet, causing the Bell 407 to break apart and crash.
All three people on board were killed: Cal Fire Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, 46; Cal Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez, 44; and contract Pilot Tony Sousa, 55.
The helitanker sustained damage but was able to land safely.
In its final report released on Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that the Skycrane crew entered a restricted air zone at too high an altitude and then made an “aggressive descent,” striking the smaller aircraft.
The Bell 407, a helicopter used for firefighting coordination, was flying at its assigned altitude of 2,500 feet, according to the NTSB. The Skycrane, a larger helicopter used for dropping water, was also cleared to fly at 2,500 feet but was unable to receive a clear radio signal and entered the area at a much higher altitude of 4,000 feet.
“Surveillance footage showed that the Bell 407 was in level flight when it was impacted by the Skycrane’s right wheel and tire assembly,” NTSB investigators noted. “The impact was immediately followed by an explosion and the separation of the Bell 407’s tail boom, main rotor, mast, and transmission.”
The NTSB concluded that the Skycrane crew should have remained outside the restricted zone until they received proper clearance.
A toxicology report showed the Bell’s pilot had used an antihistamine, cetirizine. However, investigators determined it did not contribute to the deadly collision.
As a result of the accident, Cal Fire has implemented several new safety measures, the agency announced Thursday. Among them are enhanced pilot training, updated communication protocols, and stronger after-action reviews.
Wrongful death lawsuits have been filed on behalf of all three victims.
“We appreciate the NTSB’s thorough investigation and findings of accountability for this completely avoidable mid-air collision,” said attorney Gary Robb, who is representing the Bischof and Rodriguez families. “These men were on a heroic mission to save lives, and their loss was tragic not only for their families but also for their communities.”
Robb also represented Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Lakers star Kobe Bryant, in her wrongful death lawsuits against the company that operated the helicopter that crashed in 2020, killing Kobe, his daughter Gianna, and seven others in Calabasas.