Day/date: December 14, 1987 FIELD INCIDENT REPORT Incident type: Military Aircraft Crash Log number: 87-272 Date/time of incident: 12/11, 10:45 am Date/time received: 12/14, 6:45 am Park: Organ Pipe Cactus Location: Montezuma Head Peak Reported by: Howard Smith, ORPI (via Ranger Activities, WRO) Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO Summary: An Air Force A-10 crashed into an outcropping north of Montezuma Head Peak on Friday morning. A helicopter evacuated the pilot, who suffered a broken arm. Since the outcropping is a few hundred feet above the valley floor, the plane is believed to have been flying too low. The A-10 may have live ammunition on board. The superintendent has advised the Air Force that the plane is down in a wilderness area and that the use of motorized equipment is prohibited there. The commander of Davis-Monthan AFB (Tucson, Arizona) was reportedly en-route to the park to meet with the superintendent. Persons involved: Name Address DOB or age *** Name not given *** FIELD INCIDENT FOLLOW-UP REPORT Original incident log number: 87-272 Date/time of original incident: 12/11, 1045 am Park: Organ Pipe Cactus Location: Montezuma Head Peak Summary of original report: An Air Force A-10 crashed into an outcropping north of Montezuma Head Peak on December 11th. A helicopter evacuated the pilot, who suffered a broken arm. Since the outcropping is a few hundred feet above the valley floor, the plane was believed to have been flying too low. Follow-up number: 1 Date/time of follow-up: 12/15, 1030 am Reported by: Harold Smith, Superintendent, Organ Pipe Cactus Prepared by: Bill Halainen, Ranger Activities, WASO The Air Force regularly uses a 10-mile-wide corridor on the north end of the park as an approach to Lupe Firing Range. In order to be able to go in under radar coverage, the Air Force allows planes to fly as low as 500' above the terrain. The A-10, which was apparently one of two making an approach, hit a ridge which is only 400' above the valley floor. The pilot ejected and suffered a broken arm when hitting the ground; the plane impacted about a half mile further on, then slid about 3000'. It didn't leave much of a crater, but did destroy about 60 trees and other natural features. Although the crash site is in a wilderness area, the Air Force continued to send in vehicles even after the life-threatening emergency was over. The superintendent has since met with General Larry Keith, the commander of Davis- Monthan AFB (where the plane originated), and he has agreed to work with the park to assure that this doesn't happen again. A cooperative agreement will be worked out with the Air Force, and the park will seek restitution for damages to the wilderness area. FIELD INCIDENT REPORT Incident type: Oil Spill Log number: 87-273 Date/time of incident: 12/11, 730 am Date/time received: 12/14, 11 am Park: Rock Creek Location: Low Water Bridge Reported by: John Anglin, RAD, NCRO Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO Summary: While filling fuel tanks at an apartment complex on Connecticut Avenue, a Stuart Petroleum fuel truck accidentally discharged 1200 gallons of oil into the city's sewer system. That oil eventually spilled into Rock Creek, but most of it was caught by the four booms set out on the creek - three near the point of outflow and the fourth near the Potomac. The park staff and D.C. fire and hazardous materials departments responded; clean-up is being conducted by a contractor, Clean America. Persons involved: Name Address DOB or age