C-130 MAFFS air tanker goes down in South Dakota

[fotoguzzi]

C-130 MAFFS air tanker went down in South Dakota (http://wildfiretoday.com/2012/07/01/c-130-maffs-air-tanker-crashes-in-south-dakota/)

The article claims some survivors. The crash occurred northeast of Edgemont, South Dakota on the afternoon of 1 July while fighting the White Draw fire.

[sevenstrokeroll]

all three got out and are being treated at local hospital.

[fotoguzzi]

I hate to be contradictory, but the following story does not match the above post:

Family: Crew member of North Carolina cargo plane has died in crash while fighting forest fire - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/unreal-residents-tour-neighborhoods-most-devastated-by-colo-springs-wildfire/2012/07/02/gJQAQpGHHW_story.html)

[con-pilot]

This accident is a hard one to get any real facts on. I've heard reports that one to three crew members died to none. Also heard that three survivors have been taken to hospital, to just one was.

Ah well, we'll find out the whole story sooner or later. The more that made it, the better.

[voyageur9]

and the other seven MAFFS temporarily grounded. All eight had been activated given the multiple and large fires.

Apparently at least one of the pilots was killed.

Air Force C-130 crashes while fighting wildfire | Nation & World | The Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018581527_apuswesternwildfires.html)

[The Ancient Geek]

Is history being repeated ?, I seem to recall another (privately owned ?) C130 suffering structural failure while fighting forest fires in the USA a year or two ago.

[Yankee Whisky]

Does anyone have the numbers for typical 'g' loads incurred

when flying low over forest fires, including the wind generated

up- and downdrafts in hilly terrain? Would peak loads exceed acceptable

numbers for averting serious and/or fatal wing cracks ?

[herkman]

The other C130 lost was a very early ex USAF airplane which had been operated by the CIA and for a long period had no docuemented repair and service records.

Both wings detached from the centre section caused by joint failure.

Come a long way on centre section failures since then and I doubt if high G loadings if operated within the dash 1 handbook would cause a failure.

It a sad time for us all when our own kind is taken in such a brutal way.

However the USAF just like many Air Forces are under pressure not to over spend on servicing.

They are just about the same vintage as the RAF K models would be and however when fire fighting would not should normally achieve high G forces.

Sad day for us all and special thoughts to the families

Regards

Col

[HercDriver]

It was 2003..and yes it was privately owned

Crew is typically 6 for these missions.

[BobM2]

Here's the official briefing:

Press conference on US Air Force C--130 Tanker Aircraft crash in the Black Hills - YouTube

[Panther 88]

OMG. I'm sure LCOL Carver wanted to bang some heads together answering some of those ridiculous questions. Good job by him. Such a shame for this to happen doing a peacetime mission.

[fotoguzzi]

4 killed in C-130 plane crash | WCNC.com Charlotte (http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/C-130-aircraft-crashes-in-South-Dakota-161059375.html)

This sad new is from the city where the plane was based. As with every story so far, there are inconsistencies.

[Later:]
Confirmed:

N.C. Air National Guard Announces C-130 Crash Victims (http://www.145aw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123308509)

From the above, the positions within the aircraft seem to include pilot and copilot (presumed), navigator, and flight engineer. From context, the two survivors may have operated the MAFFS equipment.

[fotoguzzi]

Plane leaving Charlotte to fight SD fires crashed | www.wsoctv.com (http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/c-130-aircraft-sent-fight-wildfire-crashes-south-d/nPkMx/)

Another North Carolina source has this interesting statement:
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) said the C-130 was following a BLM Air Supervision Module (ASM) plane which was engaged as the lead plane during the time of the crash. The ASM got caught in a downdraft while the C-130 was trailing it.
This is being investigated as a separate incident according to the USFS.

[fotoguzzi]

C-130 tankers to resume firefighting ops - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times (http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2012/07/ap-air-force-firefighting-c-130-tankers-resume-ops-070312)

The remaining C-130 MAFFS tankers except for one from North Carolina are returning to action today.