Warbird Registry
Aerial Visuals
Early History
United States Navy. TBM-3E. Construction #: 3014.
Hemet Valley Flying Service, Hemet, CA
#E71 N7229C 1959-1971
Aerial Spray Program – NB
1971 – Pilot Chase.


Forced landed in field due to engine fire and destroyed at Ojai, California, 30 August 1971, while firebombing. The accident is summarized from the NTSB report, number LAX72FUQ16 at Aerial Visuals: There were no fatalities. Incident occurred at 16:30 hours. The airframe was destroyed. The flight departed from Paso Robles, CA, with the destination as Goleta, CA. The engine failed or malfunctioned while cruising. There was a fire or explosion in flight while circling in the traffic pattern. There was complete power loss in the failure of one engine. The emergency circumstances included; forced off-airport landing on land.
