Near Walker in Mono County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The C-130 Crew
Lost During the Cannon Fire June 17, 2002
| | N130HP Tanker 130 | |
Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 5, 2008
1. C-130 Crew Marker
In loving and grateful memory of the C-130 crew - Steve Wass, Craig Labare and Mike Davis - who gave their lives to save our community on June 17, 2002.
Erected 2003 by The Community of Walker CA, and the US Forest Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • Heroes. A significant historical year for this entry is 2002.
Location. 38° 31.214′ N, 119° 29.055′ W. Marker is near Walker, California, in Mono County. It is on California Route 395 north of the town of Walker, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coleville CA 96107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Flag on Centennial Bluff (approx. 2½ miles away); Golden Gate Mine (approx. 2.6 miles away); a different marker also named Golden Gate Mine (approx. 2.6 miles away); Coleville (approx. 3.6 miles away); Topaz Post Office (approx. 5.8 miles away); Mountain Warfare Training Center (approx. 11.4 miles away); Fremonts Trail 1844 (approx. 13½ miles away); Sonora Mono Toll Road (approx. 15.6 miles away).
Regarding The C-130 Crew. As a brush and timber fire raged near Walker on 6/17/02
this page online
George Petterson of the NTSB wondered if a similar accident, the loss of Lockheed C-130A N135FF "Airtanker 82" on 8/13/94 over the San Gabriel Mountains, might be related. Mr. Petterson visited the N135FF crash site by helicopter and recovered evidence that wing failure was indeed the cause of this accident too. All C-130A aircraft were grounded pending a full investigation in which wing corrosion and structural fatigue was finally established as the primary cause for the loss of both N130HP and C-135FF.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. C-135FF "Airtanker 82" crashed under similar circumstances.
Also see . . . In the Shadow of the Ash: The crashes of Tanker 130 and Tanker 123. (Submitted on December 15, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional keywords. Fire Fighters, C-130, Retardant Drop,
Photographed by Craig Baker
2. C-130 Crew Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker
3. Model of the C-130
via Avaiation Geek Club, 2002
4. N130HP Tanker 130 circa 2002
Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 5, 2008
5. Original Marker
Photographed by Chris English, circa 2009
6. Original Marker
With items left to honor the crew.
Photographed by Chris English, circa 2009
7. Original Tribute
100 meters south of the existing memorial.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,299 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on October 5, 2009, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona. Photos: 1. submitted on December 6, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 2, 3. submitted on June 15, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on December 15, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5. submitted on December 6, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 6, 7. submitted on October 5, 2009, by Chris English of Phoenix, Arizona.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. New close-up photo of the plaque. • Can you help?
