On 31 July 2010, a Convair CV-580 Airtanker aircraft operated by Conair Aviation crashed while on a firefighting mission near Lytton, British Columbia, Canada.

[1] The following investigation found no evidence of mechanical faults, and concluded that visual illusion during low-altitude flying may have prevented the pilot from accurately assessing the flight path in sufficient time to avoid trees and rising terrain.

While preparing for a bombing run on the side of Fraser River canyon, Tanker 448 struck trees while unexpectedly dropping the retardant intended for the target.

[6] The rescue operation to reach the downed flight was carried out by the British Columbia Ministry of Forest and Lands and local emergency services.

The TSB determined that "visual illusion may have precluded recognition, or an accurate assessment, of the flight path profile in sufficient time to avoid the trees on rising terrain.