Namao AFB

The airplane, a CC130, callsign Trucker 5, departed 18 Wing Namao, Alberta, at 1555Z on a VFR, Tactical Airlift Mission (TAL) to Camp Wainwright, Extraction Zone (EZ) Saville Farm. The aircraft was configured for a Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System (LAPES) drop and had a total all-up-weight (AUW) for takeoff of 118,914 pounds. A dry pass was made in Namao to practice a LAPES profile and an emergency. Following the dry pass, the proceeded on the low level route portion of their mission to EZ Saville Farm. The mission progressed normally to the extraction zone. The aircraft arrived at Saville Farm on time and proceeded to carry out the LAPES extraction. During the LAPES profile, the aircraft impacted the ground shortly after their expected Time On Target (TOT) of 1630Z. Five crew members were killed and four others were injured. The airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
Maj A. G. Niles, aircraft commander,
Cpt Michael G. Allen, pilot, †
Cpt Vincent L. Schurman, copilot, †
Cpt E. R. M. Juneau, navigator,
Sgt H. J. Lous, flight engineer,
W/O S. J. Hull, flight engineer,
M/WO Joseph Sylvio Castonguay, CABC, †
Sgt Alain Michaud, loadmaster, †
M/Cpl Ronald J. McWilliam, loadmaster, †

On short final to Fort Wainwright AFB, the airplane lost height, struck approach equipments then an embankment and eventually crashed about 600 feet short of runway threshold. Both pilots and seven passengers were killed while nine other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. It was engaged in a combined exercice called 'Brim Frost'. At the time of the accident, the OAT was -46° C.

The Squadron was tasked to carry out a fly-past in commemoration of the 61st anniversary of the RCAF in conjunction with other base aircraft. At the conclusion of the fly-past the three CC-130 crews planned to recover on runway 29 utilizing a low level 'battle' break manoeuvre. They positioned themselves in echelon right with wingspan spacing. The briefed procedure was to pull 10° and turn left with 60° of bank maintaining 2 G's, climbing to 1,000 feet AGL to position themselves downwind. Number 2 & 3 would follow each with three seconds spacing. After approximately 50° of turn at 900 feet AGL number 2 collided with the underside of lead forward of the LH main gear, punching a 5 foot square hole in the aircraft floor structure. The number 2 aircraft had its forward fuselage section separate from the aircraft and freefall into a field. The numbers 3 and 4 propellers separated and landed some distance from the main wreckage. The tail section of the lead aircraft also separated prior to ground impact. Control of either aircraft after collision was impossible. The four occupants of the lead aircraft and the six occupants of number 2 all sustained fatal injuries. Both aircraft crashed inverted and a building and several vehicles were destroyed in a very intense fire.
Crew:
Cpt Robert William Drake, pilot,
Cpt Iain David Mahaffey, pilot,
Cpt John Derek Thornton, pilot,
Cpt David Arthur Jon Whalen, pilot,
W/O William Iver Oness, flight engineer.
Passenger:
Cpl J. M. Doucet, ATC.

The Squadron was tasked to carry out a fly-past in commemoration of the 61st anniversary of the RCAF in conjunction with other base aircraft. At the conclusion of the fly-past the three CC-130 crews planned to recover on runway 29 utilizing a low level 'battle' break manoeuvre. They positioned themselves in echelon right with wingspan spacing. The briefed procedure was to pull 10° and turn left with 60° of bank maintaining 2 G's, climbing to 1,000 feet AGL to position themselves downwind. Number 2 & 3 would follow each with three seconds spacing. After approximately 50° of turn at 900 feet AGL number 2 collided with the underside of lead forward of the LH main gear, punching a 5 foot square hole in the aircraft floor structure. The number 2 aircraft had its forward fuselage section separate from the aircraft and freefall into a field. The numbers 3 and 4 propellers separated and landed some distance from the main wreckage. The tail section of the lead aircraft also separated prior to ground impact. Control of either aircraft after collision was impossible. The four occupants of the lead aircraft and the six occupants of number 2 all sustained fatal injuries. Both aircraft crashed inverted and a building and several vehicles were destroyed in a very intense fire.
Crew:
Cpt Lonnie Benjamin Register Jr., pilot,
Cpt Kevin Ernest Gerald Kennedy, copilot,
Cpt Brian John Tulloch, navigator,
Sgt Robert Harry Brown, flight engineer.

On final approach to runway 29, the crew attempted to drop the load that jammed on the rear ramp. The aircraft banked left, causing the left wing to hit the ground. The aircraft went out of control and crashed. All seven crew members (six Canadians and one American) were killed.

The airplane was engaged in a local training flight at Namao AFB with 14 people on board. On final approach, one of the engine failed, causing the airplane to stall and to crash short of runway. All 14 occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed.

While flying in the vicinity of Watson Lake, on a training mission from Namao Airbase in Edmonton, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. The captain decided to make an emergency landing and eventually ditched the aircraft into the Watson Lake, near the airport of Watson Lake. A crew member was killed while four others were rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost. It was reported that the aircraft experienced fuel flow problems.