CLAIM FILED IN C-130 CRASH : DEAD CREWMAN'S WIFE SAYS FOREST SERVICE PLANE POORLY MAINTAINED.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Survivors of a crewman killed in the 1994 crash of a Hemet-based firefighting plane have filed a $2 million claim against the U.S. Forest Service, alleging the tanker wasn't properly maintained. The C-130 operated by Hemet Valley Flying Service was headed to a Kern County fire Aug. 13, 1994, when it exploded in the air southeast of Palmdale, killing the three crew members. The claim was filed Aug. 8 in San Bernardino San Bernardino, city, United States San Bernardino (săn bûr'nədē`nō), city (1990 pop. 164,164), seat of San Bernardino co., S Calif., at the foot of the San Bernardino Mts.; inc. 1854. on behalf of Rona Zaremba, widow of flight engineer Shawn Zaremba, 30, and their two children. The family lives in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. . She alleges the plane was transferred illegally to the operator, maintained poorly and inspected inadequately. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation determined the explosion probably was caused by an electrical short or a hot engine surface igniting leaking fuel. The Forest Service's troubled air tanker program has been under scrutiny since 1991 when two C-130s under firefighting contracts showed up hauling cargo for pay in Kuwait after the Persian Gulf War Persian Gulf War or Gulf War (1990–91) International conflict triggered by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. Though justified by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on grounds that Kuwait was historically part of Iraq, the invasion was presumed to be . The Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, crash was one of two in 1994 that prompted an internal review, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. agency documents obtained in Washington in January. Inspectors warned that the planes were being poorly maintained by inexperienced mechanics. A team of experts generally dismissed the inspectors' criticism, but nonetheless issued a list of recommendations to improve safety. The Zaremba claim cites three official investigations. Forest Service spokesman Alan Polk said it would be inappropriate to comment pending trial. |
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