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Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules off San Clemente Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 2009 at 1909 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1705
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
McClellan AFB - McClellan AFB
MSN:
4993
YOM:
1984
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While performing a SAR mission for a 12 foot boat that was missing since two days, the aircraft collided with a Bell AH-1 Suber Cobra operated by the US Marine Corps. Both machines crashed into the sea some 24 km off the San Clemente Island and all occupants were missing. SAR were abandoned on 01NOV2013 as no trace of the Hercules and the Cobra were found. It appears that the Cobra's crew was taking part of an exercise in an area reserved for training missions. At the time of the accident, the Cobra had its anticollision lights and IFF transponder switched off.
Probable cause:
USAF and US authorities concluded that no single factor or individual act or omission was the cause of the collision. Investigations concluded that it was the consequence of a tragic confluence of events, missed opportunities, and procedure/policy issues in an airspace where most aircraft fly under a "see-and-avoid" regime. A contributory factor was that FACSFAC San Diego did not provide operational priority to the crew of the Lockheed Hercules.

Crash of a Lockheed HC-130H Hercules in Saint Paul Island

Date & Time: Jun 28, 2006
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1710
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kodiak - Saint Paul Island
MSN:
5028
YOM:
1985
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Kodiak on a cargo flight to Saint Paul Island, carrying nine crew members and a 19,000 litres fuel truck. Upon landing on runway 36, the airplane fish tailed twice, causing the right wing to struck the runway surface. The wingtip was sheared off as well as the engine n°4 propeller. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overrun, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen metres further. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Casco Grove: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1982 at 0820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1600
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Shemya - Casco Grove
MSN:
4757
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Shemya Airport at 0810LT on a short flight of 10 minutes to the Casco Grove Coast Guard Station (LORAN Station) based on Attu Island. At that time, weather conditions were considered as good with clouds down to 400 feet, broken at 2,000 feet, visibility eight miles and wind from 210 at 20 knots. Because of the short flight, the crew did not take the time to align the aircraft's inertial navigation system prior to departure. Upon arrival to Casco Grove Airport, weather deteriorated and the captain elected to maintain visual contact with the water surface while the copilot and the navigator were monitoring the approach on radar. On approach to the airport, the crew failed to realize their altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 3 miles southwest of runway 02 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and caught fire after impact. A crew member and one passenger were killed while 9 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Convair HC-131A Samaritan in Corpus Christi

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
52-5786
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
MSN:
53-6
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Corpus Christi Airport. Following an approach in reduced visibility due to foggy conditions, the airplane landed hard on runway 10R. Upon touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All eight crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16E Albatross into the Gulf of Mexico: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1973
Operator:
Registration:
2123
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Corpus Christi - Corpus Christi
MSN:
G-350
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
This crew was dropping parachute flares to illuminate a search area when one of the flares accidentally ignited in the aircraft. Intense smoke incapacitated the pilots and crew and the aircraft became uncontrolled and crashed into the sea. All six crew members were killed.
LCDR Francis W. Miller,
LTJG Jerald M. Mack,
AD1 Harold D. Brown Jr.,
AM2 Benjamin R. Gaskins Jr.,
AT2 John F. Harrison,
AT2 John P. Pledger.