Warbird Registry
Aerial Visuals
Early History
United States Navy. TBM-3E. Construction number 3063.
Sonora Flying Service, Columbia, CA, 1963. Registered as N6826C. Flew as tanker #C53.
John P. Lippott, Salmon, ID, 1963-1966.
Idaho Aircraft Co, Boise, ID, 1969-1972.
Conair Aviation Ltd., Abbotsford, BC
#607 CF-AGN 1972-1977
Note – Skyway TBM CF-KCJ, which crashed in Washington State in 1969, was also numbered 607. The number was reassigned to CF-AGN in 1972.
Aerial Spray Program – Quebec, NB
1972 – Flew in Quebec in 1972, Pilot Buchanan. 1973 – Did not fly in NB. 1974, 1975 – Flew in NB, Pilot Losee.
Forest Protection Limited, Fredericton, NB
#607 CF-AGN / #7 C-FAGN 1977-1983
Aerial Spray Program / Fire Suppression – NB
1977 – FPL purchased FAGN from Conair Aviation Limited in August 1977. Pilot Nelson. 1978, 1979 – Pilot Archer. Repainted and renumbered (to #7) to fleet standard after 4 July, 1978. Used for fire bombing both years.
Aerial Spray Program – NB
1980 – Pilot Archer. 1981, 1982 – Pilot Hopping.
Fire Suppression – NB
1983 – Pilots Hopping and Wood. FAGN was one of a team of 6 TBMs plus one spare that conducted firebombing for the Department of Natural Resources.
Crashed 4 July 1983 on take-off at the end of the runway at Charlo Airport while on a fire-bombing mission. Pilot John Wood was not injured, but the aircraft was a write-off. Cause: possibly a prop fracture. The gear was selected “up” and the aircraft settled back down on the runway; the prop hit the ground and fractured. The engine was torn off and the aircraft was junked. [FPL Annual Report 1983]
In a comment to this page, pilot John Wood says: “As pilot of the above aircraft, I can assure all readers that the gear was NOT, and I repeat, NOT selected up too early. The aircraft was at least 140 ft in the air, when the blade broke off, causing fire, and immediate departure of the remaining two blades. The aircraft then crashed some 10 to 15 seconds later on the runway.”
1987 – Registration cancelled by FPL.
As pilot of the above aircraft, i can assure all readers that the gear was NOT, and I repeat, NOT selected up to early. The aircraft was at least 140 ft in the air, when the blade broke off, causing fire, and immediate departure of the remaining two blades. The aircraft then crashed some 10 to 15 seconds later on the runway.