Tough break for tough plane... not the end
With regards to the families and friends of the crew.
The Firefighting C130 that recently crashed after "total flight control failure" (Wing falling off), two words:
Transverse Load.
As an active C130 Pilot in the USAF/ANG, like all the pilots in my squadron, took a serious look at the tapes and figures surrounding the catastrophe of that aircraft. We in the flying circles have studied since lesson 1 of the first day of flying about lift and weight and airspeed. The bottom line? Too fast, too low, far too hot. Unfortunate? Absolutely. Avoidable? Absolutely.
Again, I mean no disrepect to the families and loved ones of the crew, they were certainly brave and flying a dangerous breed of mission, but it's important to find something to learn from in everything. Most notably, the mistakes that others as well as ourselves, that we might not make the same ones again.
Keep em' Flying!