Norwegian C-130 Hercules accident

Blog Editor Note: We have been informed that the Norwegian Air Force C-130J-30 that crashed on 15 March 2012 was serial number 10-5630, c/n 5630.

On 15 March 2012, contact was lost to a Norwegian Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules military transport plane on route from Evenes to Kiruna. Based on radar and communications data, the plane is thought to have been lost in a large and sparsely populated area near the Kebnekaise mountain range. Five Norwegian officers were on board. A search effort led by Swedish rescue service is under way, but is affected by snow, wind and cloudyness impeding helicopter reconaissance. The aircraft was participating in the "Cold Response" military exercise, that also involved forces from Britain, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States.

According to a military spokesperson, the military does not "know the condition of the aircraft of those who are on board. But we're looking for a crashed airplane." The Norwegian Minister of Defence initially claimed that everyone on board had been killed, but later retracted his statement, as no wreckage has been yet found. According to a spokesperson, "It has been quite a long time now since we lost radio contact, so we don't have much hope now."

Crew Escapes Aircraft Crash at Point Mugu

POINT MUGU, Calif. (NNS) -- The three crew members aboard an Omega Air Boeing 707 tanker that crashed on the evening of May 18 from Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu escaped with minor injuries.

The jet was attempting to take off when the mishap occurred. The resulting fire was contained by responding units within a few hours.

Responding to the fire were two engines and three crash trucks from NBVC's Federal Fire Department, one Air Squad helicopter from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, four engines and one water tender from the Ventura County Fire Department and one water tender from the City of Ventura Fire Department.

Omega Air Refueling is a civilian company under contract by the Navy to provide fleet operations support on Point Mugu's sea test range.

The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Omega Air Refueling 707 Tanker Crashes at Mugu

An Omega Air refueling 707 tanker crashed yesterday on take off from the Point Mugu. A video report from Los Angeles TV channel 2 is available at click here

Omega operates two 707s on contract with the Navy out of Point Mugu: N707AR (707-321B cn 20029) and N707MQ (707-368C cn 21368).

The company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas and their website is at http://www.omegaairrefueling.com

Navy T-45 Crashes Near Tallahassee

From Chief of Naval Air Training Center Public Affairs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla (NNS) -- A U. S. Navy T-45C Goshawk training jet assigned to Training Air Wing Six crashed east of Tallahassee, Fla. while conducting a training mission at approximately 10:15 a.m. CST, Dec. 29.

Both occupants ejected safely and have been transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

The aircraft was conducting a routine training mission.

The T-45C Goshawk is a tandem-seat, carrier capable, jet trainer whose mission is to train Navy and Marine Corps pilots and naval flight officers.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.

Marine Harrier Crashes During Exercise

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- An AV8B Harrier, belonging to the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), crashed just west of Lake George in the Ocala National Forest, near the town of Salt Springs, Fla., at approximately 8 p.m. July 18.

The jet was based aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and was participating in a composite training unit exercise as part of pre-deployment training for the 26th MEU.

Capt. Jarrod L. Klement, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266, ejected from the plane and was airlifted to Shands Cancer Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville by local authorities.

Klement is in stable condition. He sustained non-life threatening injuries.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Air Force officials suspend training flights of T-38C aircraft

A T-38C Talon similar to this one crashed May 1 at Sheppard Air Base, Texas. The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high performance and exceptional safety record. It is used primarily by Air Education and Training Command for undergraduate pilot and pilot instructor training. Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration also use the T-38 in various roles. (U.S. Air Force photo)

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Air Education and Training Command officials suspended flights of T-38C Talon aircraft May 1 following a fatal crash at Sheppard AFB, Texas.

The crash was the second in two weeks involving a T-38, following an April 23 accident in which two pilots were killed when their T-38 crashed at Columbus AFB, Miss.

General William R. Looney III, AETC commander, directed the stand-down.

"We have no evidence that these incidents are related," General Looney said. "But until we have a more complete understanding of the causes of both accidents, it's prudent to stand down the T-38's."

The causes of both crashes are under investigation.

The Air Force has approximately 500 T-38 aircraft in its inventory. The T-38 is used in AETC to prepare student pilots for future training in fighter and bomber aircraft.

Flash -- USAF Aircraft Crashes - Both Pilots Killed

USAF Photo

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Two pilots were killed May 1 in a T-38C Talon crash at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. A T-38C assigned to the 80th Flying Training Wing crashed at about 7:45 a.m. The cause of the crash is under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.

B2 Bomber Crashes

A B-2 stealth bomber crashed at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, February 23, 2008. Details of the crash are presented on this Pentagon Channel report.

If you want to view the report via a popup media player click on this link B2 Bomber Crashes

B-2 Bomber Crashes on Guam; Pilots Safe

A B-2 stealth bomber crashed Saturday at an air base on Guam, but both pilots ejected safely and were in good condition, the Air Force said.

It was the first crash of a B-2 bomber, said Capt. Sheila Johnston, a spokeswoman for Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

A board of officers will investigate the accident.

F15 Crash

The Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Public Affairs has issued the following press release:

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Two Air Force F-15C Eagles were reported missing today at approximately 2 p.m. CST in the Gulf of Mexico. The two aircraft were assigned to the 33d Fighter Wing. At the time of the accident, they were on a training sortie.
Active search and rescue efforts are underway. A board of officers will investigate the accident. Additional details will be provided as soon as they become available.

Crew Members Rescued from Navy Helo Crash off Cal Coast

All seven crew members were rescued from a crash of a Navy HH-60H Seahawk helicopter off the coast of southern California Nov. 11 and returned safely to USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) with minor injuries.

The helicopter crashed at approximately 9 p.m. local time.

The helicopter is assigned to "Golden Falcons" Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2, stationed at Naval Air Station North Island. It was providing support for the Abraham Lincoln Strike Group at the time of the crash. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The Everett, Wash.-based Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, embarked Carrier Air Wing 2, the ships of Destroyer Squadron 9, and commander, Carrier Strike Group 9 are underway approximately 100 miles from San Diego participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise.

The exercise is designed to enhance the interoperability of the strike group. The strike group is completing qualifications in preparation to deploy overseas early next year.

MH-53 Helicopter Crashes in Florida

Two people were injured and five were unhurt when an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter from the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, crashed near Duke Field at approximately 11:45 p.m. Sept. 7, 2007.

The aircraft was performing a routine training mission.

The Eglin fire department responded. Airman 1st Class Bradley Jordan, 20th Special Operations Squadron gunner, was transferred to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Col. William Nelson, Air Force Special Operations Command Surgeon General's office, was transferred to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola. The remaining crew members were transferred to Eglin Hospital for evaluation.

No one on the ground was injured and no civilian property damage was caused by the accident.

A board of officers will investigate the accident. As soon as additional details become available, they will be provided.

E-2C Hawkeye Crashes, Navy Conducting Search

A Navy E-2C Hawkeye aircraft from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120 crashed at sea Aug. 15, while conducting operations on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

Three aviators were aboard the aircraft. An air and sea search is being conducted by units from Harry S. Truman, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The identities of the crew are not being released at this time.

The aircraft crashed at approximately 11:00 p.m. following its launch from Harry S. Truman. The ship was approximately 150 miles southeast of the Virginia Capes conducting routine training operations.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

VAW-120 is the east coast E-2C/C-2A Fleet Replacement Squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk and trains pilots and Naval flight officers in both aircraft before they are assigned to operational fleet squadrons.

The E-2C Hawkeye is a twin-engine turbo prop aircraft used for airborne command, control, and early warning. It normally carries a crew of five including two pilots and three NFOs.

Kitty Hawk F/A-18C Aircraft Lost, Pilot Safely Recovered

USS KITTY HAWK, At Sea (NNS) -- An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195, part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, was lost at sea July 30 during a night training mission from USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63).

The pilot ejected and was safely recovered by a U.S. Navy helicopter shortly after the incident, which took place about 400 miles southeast of Guam.

The aircraft was conducting routine training at the time. A Navy investigation will be conducted to determine the cause.

The pilot’s name will not be released at this time.

The F/A-18C is a single seat fighter and attack aircraft. The squadron operates from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, and is embarked on Kitty Hawk.

The Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group is on its summer deployment in the western Pacific Ocean. The strike group is the U.S. Navy’s largest and includes the carrier, seven ships of Destroyer Squadron 15, two Aegis weapons system-equipped guided-missile cruisers and CVW 5.

The ships operate from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, and the air wing operates from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. Together, they serve as the 7th Fleet’s combatant force.