On the evening of November 16, an aerial tractor AT-802A (registration number N802NZ) took off from Fort Collins Airport in Colorado, USA to monitor the progress of the wildlife fire above Kruger Rock Estes Park. 

The fire report started at around 18:30 local time, and the crash site was discovered around 22:30, but unfortunately the pilot did not survive.

After 9News reported that Mark Sallinger posted a tweet, this is the first time Colorado has used night vision technology to use fixed-wing aircraft to extinguish fires at night.

NTSB and FAA are investigating.

The aerial tractor AT-802 is an agricultural aircraft that can also be modified into a fire-fighting or armed version. It first flew in the United States in October 1990 and was manufactured by Air Tractor Inc. AT-802 carries a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. In the United States, it is considered a Type III seat or single-engine aerial tanker. (Source: Wikipedia Air Tractor AT-802)

Suddenly: We heard that this plane crashed while fighting a wildfire in Estes Park

This is the first time a fixed-wing aircraft uses night vision to extinguish fires at night in CO

Owned company is competing with Estes and trying to learn more #9News pic.twitter.com/izpgNchMYK

— Mark Salinger (@MarcSallinger) November 17, 2021