California Aviation Attorneys

Crash Of CDF Plane Claims The Lives Of Two Firefighters

Investigators are examining an OV-10 Airtactical aircraft that crashed in the Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest and claimed the lives of two firefighters.

Battalion Chief Robert Paul Stone of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and DynCorp Pilot George “Sandy” Willett were both killed in the crash shortly after 10:30 a.m. while on a mission east of Springville in Tulare County.

Battalion Chief Stone, 36, was a resident of Visalia and an 18-year employee of CDF. He is survived by his wife, Mary Marinda “Rindi” Stone and two children Wil, age 8, and Libbie, age 4.

Pilot Willett, 52, was a resident of Hanford and a pilot for four years with DynCorp, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and contracts with California to provide pilots for firefighting. He is survived by his wife, Judy, of Hanford.

Investigators, CDF personnel and equipment are still reviewing evidence at the scene and more details will be released as soon as they become available. The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified by CDF.

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