Lockheed KC-130J Hercules crash, Dec 6, 2018 (5 killed)
Lockheed KC-130J Hercules accident on December 6, 2018 near Pacific Ocean, south of Japan, World with 5 fatalities. Cause: CDA RB: The Hornet pilot...
- Date: December 6, 2018
- Aircraft: Lockheed KC-130J Hercules
- Location: Pacific Ocean, south of Japan, World
- Fatalities: 5
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: CDA RB: The Hornet pilot lost visual contact with the tanker, and an unplanned non standard separation together with non optimized lighting triggered the event; organizational culture and command climate were identified as contributing factors.
A USMC KC130J tanker (Sumo 41) and an F/A 18 Hornet collided during night refuelling over the Pacific Ocean south of Japan on 6 December 2018. Both aircraft crashed into the sea; the five Hercules crew were lost and the Hornet pilot was rescued. A later review board found organizational culture and command climate contributed to the mishap.