Country
Crash of a Lockheed MC-130H Hercules near Gramsh: 9 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 31, 2005 at 2000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
87-0127
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tirana - Tirana
MSN:
5118
YOM:
1987
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Group based at RAF Mildenhall, the four engine aircraft departed Tirana-Rinas Airport in the evening for a night training mission with the Albanian Army. While flying at low height, about 300 feet above the ground by night and using night-vision goggles, the crew elected to gain height while approaching a ridge. Unable to climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in hilly and snow covered terrain. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident investigation board determined that the crew's loss of situational awareness placed the aircraft in too low a climb with respect to the surrounding mountainous terrain. Responding to the situation, the crew did not use all available power and stalled the aircraft during a turning climb. This resulted in a loss of aircraft control and almost immediate crash.
Crash of a Lockheed C-130K Hercules near Baghdad: 10 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 30, 2005 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XV179
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Baghdad - Balad
MSN:
4195
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Aircraft flight hours:
24200
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing, according to the RAF, an administrative flight from Baghdad to Balad, an Air Base located 65 km northwest of Baghdad. While climbing, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed near Al Taji, about 30 km northwest of Baghdad. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board concluded that XV179 crashed because the ac became uncontrollable after hostile action caused the explosive separation of the outboard 23 feet of the right-hand wing. Furthermore the Board conclude that the explosive separation could have been caused solely by [blanked out] or a combination of [blanked out] and another [blanked out] impacting the wing in the vicinity of the separation boundary.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Flying at low level and in daylight made the ac vulnerable to [blanked out],
- The lack of any fire retarding technology, either foam or inert gas, in the fuel tanks allowed an explosive fuel/air mix to develop in the ullage,
- The ACHQ did not have sight of Op [blanked out] tasking and this reduced their ability to provide relevant intelligence support,
- The SAFIRE reporting, collating and dissemination chain was not efficient enough to provide aircrew with the time-sensitive intelligence they need,
- The lack of a procedure to pass up-to-the-minute and relevant threat information to the C-130 left crew unaware of the recent SAFIRE site between BIAP and BSE.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Flying at low level and in daylight made the ac vulnerable to [blanked out],
- The lack of any fire retarding technology, either foam or inert gas, in the fuel tanks allowed an explosive fuel/air mix to develop in the ullage,
- The ACHQ did not have sight of Op [blanked out] tasking and this reduced their ability to provide relevant intelligence support,
- The SAFIRE reporting, collating and dissemination chain was not efficient enough to provide aircrew with the time-sensitive intelligence they need,
- The lack of a procedure to pass up-to-the-minute and relevant threat information to the C-130 left crew unaware of the recent SAFIRE site between BIAP and BSE.
Crash of a Lockheed MC-130H Hercules at Qayyarah Airfield West AFB
Date & Time:
Dec 29, 2004
Operator:
Registration:
85-0012
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5054
YOM:
1985
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The MC-130H Hercules plane was on a nighttime logistics transport mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. US operated airfield in northern Iraq, reportedly Qayyarah Airfield West, a trench was being dug in the runway 33. The construction works, approx. 2700 feet from the southern end of the runway were not marked nor NOTAMed. On landing, at a speed of 80 knots, the Hercules plane ran into the construction works. The nose gear and forward undercarriage were sheared off and the left wing separated just outside the no. 2 engine. The aircraft then caught fire. The crew members egressed safely, but the four passengers required assistance from ground personnel and aircrew.
Probable cause:
The Board President determined the causes of the accident are:
1) A failure on the part of the mishap site Assistant S-3 (Battle Captain[s]) to disseminate timely Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) information via the appropriate channels,
2) the failure of the Army project manager for construction at the mishap site to ensure the construction was properly marked and
3) a failure of the NOTAM reporting system to include oversight and supervision of the NOTAM processes, within the area of responsibility (AOR).
Contributing factors in this mishap include:
1) a lack of training on the part of the U.S. Army to effectively prepare their personnel for combat zone airfield management and operations, and
2) the failure of the Garrison Commander at the mishap location to assume responsibility for ensuring safe flight operations at the airfield.
The Board President also determined there were numerous opportunities for airfield construction information to flow to the aircrew, but in each case the information was not properly disseminated prior to the aircrew departing for their scheduled mission.
1) A failure on the part of the mishap site Assistant S-3 (Battle Captain[s]) to disseminate timely Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) information via the appropriate channels,
2) the failure of the Army project manager for construction at the mishap site to ensure the construction was properly marked and
3) a failure of the NOTAM reporting system to include oversight and supervision of the NOTAM processes, within the area of responsibility (AOR).
Contributing factors in this mishap include:
1) a lack of training on the part of the U.S. Army to effectively prepare their personnel for combat zone airfield management and operations, and
2) the failure of the Garrison Commander at the mishap location to assume responsibility for ensuring safe flight operations at the airfield.
The Board President also determined there were numerous opportunities for airfield construction information to flow to the aircrew, but in each case the information was not properly disseminated prior to the aircrew departing for their scheduled mission.
Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules near La Quemada: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 19, 2003 at 2000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
3603
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mexicali – Santa Lucía
MSN:
3025
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Mexicali on a flight to Santa Lucía AFB. About 2 hours and 40 minutes into the flight, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an uninhabited area located near La Quemada, about 70 km north of Zacatecas. All six occupants were killed. An in-flight fire of unknown origin is suspected.
Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules at Boufarik AFB: 15 killed
Date & Time:
Jun 30, 2003 at 1100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
7T-WHQ
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Boufarik AFB - Boufarik AFB
MSN:
4926
YOM:
1982
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The crew departed Boufarik AFB on a local training flight. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the crew informed ATC about an engine fire and elected to return for an emergency landing. Few seconds later, control was lost and the aircraft crashed in the district of Beni Mered, less than 2 km from the end of runway 22. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire as well as eight houses. All four crew members were killed as well as 11 people on the ground. Six other people on the ground were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Engine fire for unknown reasons.
