Lockheed C-130 Hercules crash, Jul 1, 2012 (4 killed), Ed...
Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident on July 1, 2012 near Edgemont, South Dakota, United States with 4 fatalities. Cause: The crew's inadequate assessment...
- Date: July 1, 2012
- Aircraft: Lockheed C-130 Hercules
- Location: Edgemont, South Dakota, United States
- Fatalities: 4
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: The crew's inadequate assessment of operating conditions led the aircraft into a microburst. Poor communication with the fire lead plane and air attack aircrew and conflicting thunderstorm avoidance guidance also contributed, according to the Air Force investigation.
A North Carolina Air National Guard C-130H fighting a wildfire near Edgemont flew into a microburst during a retardant drop and struck the ground. Four of the six crew died and the two loadmasters were seriously injured. The failure of the digital flight data recorder complicated the investigation.