# Accident 20141007019819A: Marsh Aviation S-2F3AT, El Portal, CA, October 7, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 7, 2014, 16:30 local time
- Place: El Portal, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6900° N, 119.7367° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6900&lon=-119.7367&mi=10
- Aircraft: N449DF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N449DF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Marsh S-2F3AT (registry code 5420000, https://openairdocs.org/model/marsh-s-2f3at) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honeywell TPE331-14GR (registry code 33864, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-tpe331-14gr) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MARSH AVIATION S-2F3AT
- Reported engine: HONEYWELL TPE331-14GR
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15GA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15GA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141007019819A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT WAS MAKING HIS SECOND PASS OF THE DAY FIGHTING THE "DOG ROCK" FIRE NEAR YOSEMITE.  DURING THAT PASS THE PILOT MADE A LOW PASS NEAR VERY STEEP TERRAIN AND STRUCK A TREE.  THE IMPACT WITH THE TREE SEVERED THE WING AND IT DETACHED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TOP OF STEEP TERRAIN AND EXPLODED ON IMPACT.  THE AIRCRAFT FRACTURED INTO MANY PIECES WITH SOME OF THE AIRCRAFT BEING CONSUMED BY FIRE FROM THE CRASH.  THE PILOT DIED ON IMPACT.  VIDEO WAS OBTAINED BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD WHICH SHOWS THE WING SEPARATING FROM THE AIRCRAFT BUT THE VIDEO DOES NOT CLEARLY DEPICT THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION.  REPORTS FROM OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA WERE THE SOURCE OF THE TREE IMPACT INFORMATION.  THE PILOT'S BODY WAS RECOVERED HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THE AIRCRAFT HAS YET TO BE RECOVERED.  STEEP TERRAIN AND AN ACTIVE WILD FIRE HAVE PREVENTED THE AIRCRAFT RECOVERY.  WITNESS ACCOUNTS SUGGEST THE PILOT MAY HAVE FLOWN THROUGH AN AREA OF SMOKE THAT COULD HAVE TEMPORARILY BLOCKED HIS VISION OF THE TERRAIN WHICH COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR15GA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15GA005), Oct 7, 2014: Marsh S 2F3AT (N449DF), El Portal, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering at a low altitude.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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