Lockheed C-130 Hercules crash, Jun 17, 2002 (3 killed), W...
Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident on June 17, 2002 near Walker, California, United States with 3 fatalities. Cause: In-flight failure of the right wing...
- Date: June 17, 2002
- Aircraft: Lockheed C-130 Hercules
- Location: Walker, California, United States
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: In-flight failure of the right wing due to fatigue cracking in the center wing lower skin and underlying structure. Inadequate maintenance procedures to detect the cracking were a contributing factor.
A Hawkins and Powers Aviation C-130A air tanker was making a retardant drop over a valley near Walker when its wings folded upward and separated at the center wing box. A 12 inch fatigue crack in the lower skin of the right wing, hidden under a doubler, had grown undetected. All three crew were killed.