One of the California Department of Forestry's OV-10A Broncos made a forced landing in a wheat field, Friday. The aircraft had just departed Hemet-Ryan and chose to abort the flight, landing in a field with light damage. CDF uses the OV-10A to coordinate firefighting airtankers and helicopters.

The pilot was unharmed after a flight that was originally conducted in order to check out the results of recent maintenance. [Photographer David Atkinson allowed us the use of the photo of this aircraft... the same involved in the mishap]

** Report created 5/10/2004 Record 23 **
IDENTIFICATION
 Regis#: 429DF Make/Model: 0V-1 Description: NORTH AMERICAN OV-10A
 Date: 05/07/2004 Time: 1830
 Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing: N
 Damage: Minor
LOCATION
 City: HEMET State: CA Country: US

DESCRIPTION
USDA FOREST SERVICE, N429DF, NORTH AMERICAN OV-10A BRONCO, A PUBLIC USE AIRCRAFT, WHILE ON A MAINTENCE FLIGHT, LOST ENGINE POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A WHEAT FIELD 1/4 MILE SOUTHWEST OF HEMET-RYAN, CA

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
 # Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
 # Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: UNK
OTHER DATA
 Activity: Public Use Phase: Landing Operation: Public
 Departed: UNK Dep Date: Dep. Time:
 Destination: UNK Flt Plan: UNK Wx Briefing: U
 Last Radio Cont: UNK  Last Clearance: UNK
 FAA FSDO: RIVERSIDE, CA (WP21) Entry date: 05/10/2004

FMI: http://www.fire.ca.gov