1978 — Sep 8, low USAF C130 crash into ridge ~8 miles north of Little Rock AFB, AR– 8

— 8 Baugher, Joseph F. 1964 USAF Serial Numbers. 1-16-2012 revision.
— 8 Benton Courier, AR. “C-130 crash cause is investigated.” 9-11-1978, p. 5.
— 8 Benton Courier, AR. “Low flying said to be cause of fatal crash.” 12-22-1978, p. 9.
— 8 Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville. “Crash Claims Eight Airmen.: 9-10-1978, p. 1.
— 8 The News, Frederick, MD (AP). “Eight die in crash.” 9-9-1978, p. A2.

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Lockheed C-130E-LM Hercules….0532 (c/n 382-4021) crashed into mountain in Arkansas while practicing instrument approaches to Little Rock AFB Sep 8, 1978. All 8 onboard killed (ASN).” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1964 USAF Serial Numbers. 1-16-2012 revision.)

Newspaper

Associated Press, Sep 9: “Conway Ark (AP) — An Air Force C-130 transport plane with eight persons aboard crashed and burst into flames Friday during a training flight and witnesses said there appeared to be no survivors. ‘I can confirm that there have been deaths’ said Maj Chance Sharpe. However, neither the Air Force nor local authorities would say how many persons were killed in the crash as they resumed a search for survivors this morning.

“At least five of the crewmen were believed dead, according to witnesses at the scene of the crash Friday night, about eight miles north of Little Rock Air Force Base. Reporters at the scene witnessed five bodies being removed before the Air Force sealed the crash site, which was littered by burning debris from the huge transport.

“The crash occurred about one mile from the home of Jack and Ann Croft as they returned from a high school football game. Croft said he saw two C-130s flying in formation when he heard a small explosion followed by a much louder explosion and then ‘a giant ball of fire.’ Croft and his wife drove across the hilly terrain to the crash site on a motorcycle. Croft said he got as close as he could to the burning wreckage, calling for survivors. He said he didn’t see any.

“Air Force officials said the plane was on a training mission near the base when it crashed. It was practicing instrument landings when it went down, but was neither landing nor taking off, officials said.

“The plane and crew belonged to the base’s 314th Tactical Air Wing, the world’s largest C-130 wing and the only C-130 training wing in the Department of Defense. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.” (The News, Frederick, MD. “Eight die in crash.” 9-9-1978, A2.)

Sep 10: “The Air Force said Saturday night [Sep 9] that all eight crewmen aboard this C-130 [reference to photo] transport were killed when it crashed Friday night in Central Arkansas. Earlier spokesmen had said only that there were some casualties. The plane from Little Rock Air Force Base was practicing instrument landings when it crashed. (AP Laserphoto).” (Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville. “Crash Claims Eight Airmen.” 9-10-1978, p. 1.)

Dec 22: “Little Rock (AP) – The final U.S. Air Force report on the Sept. 8 crash of a C-130 transport plane that killed eight persons indicates the plane was flying too low when it crashed into a ridge in Faulkner County. The report, obtained by The Associated Press, is massive – three inches thick and weighing seven pounds. It is a compilation of testimony, photographs, drawings and various documents….

“The plane that crashed was piloted by Capt. Ronald J. Fagan and was one of four C-130s from Little Rock Air Force Base on maneuvers in the area.

“Lt. Mark Baty, pilot of one of the other planes, testified that he believed the plane piloted by Fagan was at least 1,000 feet below his aircraft and that his plane was flying at about 2,000 feet above sea level. Fagan’s plane struck a 25-foot-tall tree in an area 654 feet above sea level. Most of the terrain in the area is abut 300 feet above sea level.

“The C-130 is equipped with a proximity warning feature that sets off a horn and light in the cockpit when another plane on the same frequency gets too close. At the time of the crash, Baty said the system was set for 1,000 feet and that it was not activated by Fagan’s plane….

“Capt. Courtney W. Locke, an instructor pilot in the plane piloted by Baty, said….one of the other crew members pointed out that there was a plane underneath their plane. ‘When I looked back down at him I saw his leading-edge lights shining on the trees,’ Locke testified. ‘I knew he was extremely close to the ground at that time and I was just reaching for my wafer switch on the instructor’s panel to change to interplane radio to say something to him when he hit the ground.’….” (Benton Courier, AR. “Low flying said to be cause of fatal crash.” 12-22-1978, p. 9.)

Victims

1. Ewert, Danny, 27, Captain. Pemberton, MN
2. Faber, Dennis, 31, Captain and navigator. Fort Worth, TX
3. Fagan, Ronald, Captain. Annandale, VA
4. Hayashi, Edwin. Captain and Commander. Aiea, HI
5. Ramsey, William, 27. Sgt., load master Cincinnati, OH
6. Shadbegian, Mark. 2nd Lt. Springfield, MA
7. Smith, Thomas, 29. Captain; instructor-navigator. Fort Worth, TX
8. Vogel, Randall. Staff Sgt.; flight engineer Red Bank, NJ

(Benton Courier, AR. “C-130 crash cause is investigated.” 9-11-1978, p. 5.)
Sources

Baugher, Joseph F. 1964 USAF Serial Numbers. 1-16-2012 revision. Accessed 2-26-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1964.html

Benton Courier, AR. “C-130 crash cause is investigated.” 9-11-1978, p. 5. Accessed 9-25-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/benton-courier-sep-11-1978-p-5/

Benton Courier, AR. “Low flying said to be cause of fatal crash.” 12-22-1978, p. 9. Accessed 9-25-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/benton-courier-dec-22-1978-p-9/

Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville. “Crash Claims Eight Airmen.” 9-10-1978, p. 1. Accessed 9-25-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times-sep-10-1978-p-1/

The News, Frederick, MD. “Eight die in crash.” 9-9-1978, p. A2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=33600354