Early History
United States Navy. TBM-3. Construction #: 3369
Daro Inc., San Clemente, CA. Flew as tanker #E98, 1963-1970.
Daro Inc. TBM N9078Z #E98, 1960s. Posted by Dan Dineen to TBM’s – Mil & Civ (fb).
Sis-Q Flying Service, Santa Rosa, CA
#E26 N9078Z 1970-1974
Aerial Spray Program – NB, Quebec
1971 – Flew as #E26. Pilot Carr. Forced landing – In early June of 1971, it made a forced wheels-up landing after developing engine problems in a swampy area called Babbitt’s Meadows near Jemseg (Queens County, NB) while forest spraying in the Canadian Forces Base Gagetown area. It was retrieved by soldiers at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown as a military exercise and brought to the Fredericton Airport. There was little visual damage except a ruptured bomb tank and a blown engine. A “new” engine and prop were hung on the aircraft and tanker E-25 was flown back to California. 1972 – Flew in Quebec. Pilot Cranford. 1973-1974 – Did not fly in NB. Sis-Q Flying Service Inc. sold #E26 to Forest Protection Limited in 1974, one of 5 in total.
Jay Sherlock posted this 1969 image of Sis-Q N9078Z at Scalefirebombers.
Bill Larkins posted this undated image of Sis-Q N9078Z at Scalefirebombers.
Jay Sherlock photo of Sis-Q #E26 N9078Z in California in 1973 at Scalefirebombers.
Forest Protection Limited, Fredericton, NB
#E26 C-GLEI 1974-1975
Aerial Spray Program – NB
1974 – FPL purchased #E26 in late 1974 from Sis-Q Flying Service Inc., Santa Rosa, California. (FPL also operated TBM #26 FIMV.) 1975 – Dry leased from Evergreen Air Service. Not in list of spray aircraft for the year, as it crashed before the spray program began.
Crashed 8 May 1975, prior to the start of the spray season. TBM #E26 C-GLEI piloted by John Inman and owned by FPL experienced engine failure while on approach to Dunphy Airstrip after ferrying from Fredericton. The TBM ditched into the river and sank, partially submerged. Pilot Inman was uninjured. The aircraft was a complete write-off and was destroyed during retrieval.
FPL TBM #E26 in the river near Dunphy airstrip
These images are from the FPL files.
GLEI accident report summary received by Fredericton Airport control tower, courtesy Barrie MacLeod.
