2005 Albania MC-130 Combat Shadow II Crash
.jpg) MC-130 Combat Shadow II, similar to the one involved in the crash. | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | March 31, 2005 |
| Summary | Controlled flight into terrain |
| Site | near Rovie, in the Drizez Mountains in southeast Albania |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Lockheed MC-130 Combat Shadow II |
| Operator | United States Air Force |
| Registration | 87-0127 |
| Flight origin | Tirana-Rinas Airport, Albania |
| Destination | Tirana-Rinas Airport, Albania |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Crew | 9 |
| Fatalities | 9 (all) |
| Survivors | 0 |
The 2005 Albania MC-130 Combat Shadow II crash occurred when a United States Air Force MC-130 Combat Shadow II crashed into a mountainside during a night training exercise in southern Albania on March 31st, 2005.. The crash was the result of the pilot's loss of situational awareness resulting in a loss of control and claimed the lives of nine American aircrewmen. It was the fifth operational loss of an MC-130 in just over three years.[1]
Incident[edit]
On the night of March 31st, 2005, an MC-130 Combat Shadow II (87-0127) assigned to the 7th Special Operations Squadron was conducting a terrain-following-and-avoidance night training exercise near Rovie, Albania.[2] The aircraft, codenamed Wrath 11 was being piloted by Captain Todd R. Bracy, 34, and Captain Surender D. Kothakota, 30, with Captain James S. Cronin, 32, acting as navigator and Chief Master Sergeant Lawrence B. Gray, 40, acting as flight engineer. The aircrew were flying using night vision goggles and the aircraft was flying about 300 feet above the ground when it crashed into a mountainside just twenty minutes into the flight. It had been attempting to clear the terrain but the angle of climb was too severe resulting in a stall followed by impact. All nine crewmembers aboard the airplane were killed.[3]
Cause[edit]
An investigation was carried out by the Air Force and found the reason for the crash was a "loss of situational awareness" compounded by the mountainous terrain caused the airplane to stall because the pilots did not apply enough power to clear the rising terrain.[4] Investigators found during the fatal flight, the aircraft's navigator pointed out the terrain spurring the pilot to add power to avoid it, however not enough power was given. The MC-130 stalled at 200 feet above ground level. [5]
References[edit]
- ↑ Press, Associated (2005-04-01). "9 U.S. Bodies Found in Plane Crash in Albania". Fox News. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ↑ "Officials release Albania accident report". U.S. Air Force. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ↑ "10 years later: 7th SOS remembers Wrath-11". 352nd Special Operations Wing. 2015-03-31. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
- ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II 87-0127 Rovie". aviation-safety.net.
- ↑ http://usafunithistory.com/PDF/5-9/7%20SPECIAL%20OPERATIONS%20SQ.pdf 7th SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON
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