Pilot William L. Smothers

William Smothers was the pilot of an air tanker that had been making retardant drops on fires on the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. A late developing fire near Hubbards Fork, Kentucky necessitated another dispatch. Smothers arrived on scene and checked in with the lead aircraft circling overhead. The tanker made 2 runs over the fire area following the lead aircraft. After the second run, the tanker banked left on a level turn to make another run without using the lead aircraft. During the third run the airtanker struck trees near the top of a 1800 ft ridgeline and plummeted into a ravine 1600 feet below.