Watching the early morning news this morning they had footage of one the C-130 fire-bombers breaking up in mid-air just after it had dumped its load on one of the fires that is raging out of control in the U.S., as the aircraft flew along both wings broke off at the wing root with small fires ensuing, the fuselage then rolled inverted and nose dived into the ground, needless to say the three crew were all killed, the fleet has now been grounded pending inspection and an inquiry, thus making the available resources available to fire fighters now even more limited.
Regards, Dazza.
By: EHVB - 19th June 2002 at 11:39
RE: C-130 crash
A few years ago, another C-130, crashed under more or less the samecircomstances in France. like N130HP, it was a converted C-130A (ex Australian AF ?). It also lost its wings. The American tanker was leased for the fireseason to the French Securite Civile.
By: Dazza - 18th June 2002 at 22:01
RE: C-130 crash
I’ve just watched the clip again and there doesn’t seem to be any fire before the wings break off, it just looks like fuel burning from the ruptured tanks, it appears to have been a catastrophic structural failure, although why both wings should fail at the same time in exactly the same place is very strange indeed, however given that the aircraft have to be flown aggressively at low level to navigate the valleys and ridges with a heavy payload, perhaps this is a factor to the structural failure, conjecture on my part I realise, but It must surely be a concern for other C-130’s operated in the same manner.
But one thing that remains is three people have perished needlessly, especially when the fire was started by someone who should have known better.
Regards, Dazza.
By: Bhoy - 18th June 2002 at 20:26
RE: C-130 crash
for those that haven’t seen it, the story is http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_2051000/2051058… and the film is http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/38082000/rm/_38082158_colorado06_pann…
By: keltic - 18th June 2002 at 19:51
RE: C-130 crash
How can a plane loss its wings like that?. Unbelievable. It seems that the fire may have affected the resistance of the wings of have caused an internal explosion in the tanks. It was really distressing and sad. This shows the courage of this guys who risk their lives to serve the community. Simply my sympathy for them.
By: Bhoy - 18th June 2002 at 19:39
RE: C-130 crash
I saw this at half time of the Japan game this morning. It seemed to me the fires at the edge of the wings were there just before they came off.
A very strange sight.
By: kev35 - 18th June 2002 at 18:02
RE: C-130 crash
The real tragedy of this incident is that the fires which were being fought were alledgedly started, albeit inadvertantly, by a Park Ranger, who decided to burn a letter from her estranged husband.
As for the crash, it must have been some kind of catastrophic failure. I hope this is not going to turn out to be something which might afflict all C-130’s of a certain age.
As always, our thoughts must be with the families of the crew.
Regards,
kev35
By: LGKR - 18th June 2002 at 17:50
RE: C-130 crash
WOW!
Sign In
June 18, 2002 at 5:34 pm