2001 — March 3, USAF C-23 Plane Crash (VA NG (18) FL ANG (3)), Unadilla, GA– 21
–21 Aircraft Crashes Record Office (Geneva, Switzerland). Georgia.
–21 ANG. “Virginia ceremony to remember Airmen, Soldiers killed in 2001…crash.” 3-1-2013.
–21 American Forces Press Service/DOD. “National Guard Plane Crash Kills 21,” 3-7-2001.
–21 ASN. Accident description…3 March 2001…09:55…Shorts C-23B+ Sherpa (330)…
–21 Florida Guard Online (Coyne). “National Guard remembers Airmen, Soldiers…” 3-4-2012.
–21 New York Times (K. Sack). “21 Die in Crash of Guard Plane in Georgia Rain.” 3-4-2001.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network: “Narrative: Crashed and burst into flames in a farm field in heavy rain. All of the passengers were members of a Virginia-based military construction and engineering crew on a routine training mission. The plane’s pilot and two other crew members were members of the 171st Aviation Regiment of the Florida Army National Guard
It appeared that the pilot’s decision to go to the bathroom shifted the weight of the already unbalanced plane and caused it to become unstable and uncontrollable while in an area of strong turbulence. The nose of the plane slowly pitched up and then abruptly dropped just before the crash. In three seconds, the plane rose more than 100 feet with its nose down, and was then rocked by wind shear three times greater than what is defined as extreme turbulence. Within the first 12 seconds that they encountered problems, the G-force shifts rendered the crew and passengers incapacitated and unconscious and caused the breakup of the aircraft in flight. It was also established that the weather radar was underpowered, negatively impacting the ability of the crew to successfully circumnavigate around the severe weather.
“This C-23B Sherpa was originally built as a Shorts 360 (SH-3684) in December 1985 and was delivered to Simmons Airlines as N374MQ In 1998 the aircraft was converted to a Sherpa C-23B.
“Probable Cause: ‘The Collateral Investigation Board found the preponderance of the evidence concluded that the aircraft accident was due to crew error. The board found other factors present but not contributing directly to this aircraft accident. These factors may have influenced the crew’s decision making process and aircraft performance. This is normally the case in most aircraft human factor accidents. The board did find the preponderance of the evidence directed the board toward the crew’s failure to properly load the aircraft. In particular, the crew’s failure to properly manage the weight and balance of the aircraft resulted in an ‘out-of-CG’ condition that exceeded the aircraft design limits, rendering the aircraft unstable and leading to a violent departure from controlled flight. Once the aircraft departed controlled flight, the rapid onset of significant G-force shifts rendered the crew and passengers incapacitated and unconscious and led to a structural break-up of the aircraft in flight. This ultimately resulted in the aircraft impacting the ground, killing all on board.’” (Aviation Safety Network. “Accident description… 3 March 2001…09:55…Shorts C-23B+ Sherpa (330)…Florida Army National Guard… Fatalities: 21…Military.”)
March 4, 2001, NYT: “Unadilla, Ga., March 3 — A military transport plane flying from Florida to Virginia descended through rainy weather this morning and crashed in a freshly plowed field in this central Georgia farming community, killing all 21 people aboard. Officials had not determined the cause of the crash, but today’s steady and sometimes heavy rain was clearly a possible factor, according to law enforcement officers.
“Witnesses reported that the twin-engine propeller aircraft had lost altitude steadily before the crash but had not gone into a free fall, said Van Peavy, sheriff of Dooly County. Several people said the plane exploded into flames after impact and was on fire for hours, with gray smoke billowing from the mangled fuselage. ‘’We got there within 5 or 10 minutes and there were no survivors,’’ said Mr. Peavy, noting that all the bodies were in the fuselage. ‘’Most of them that I saw were still strapped in.’
“The plane was a C-23 Sherpa assigned to the 171st Aviation Battalion of the [FL] Army…National Guard in Lakeland, Fla., and had started its flight at Hurlburt Field, near Fort Walton Beach, Fla. It was headed to Oceana Naval Air Station, Va., carrying three Army crew members and 18 members of the Virginia Air National Guard, according to a statement released by Robins Air Force Base near here….
“Some witnesses reported seeing pieces of the plane separate from the fuselage and fall before the crash, but the authorities could not yet verify those reports. One farmer said he had found a piece of a wing in his fields….
“The C-23 Sherpa aircraft can carry up to 30 passengers and provides troop and equipment transport, airdrop and medical evacuation. Military officials said they had experienced no previous problems with the aircraft, which was designed to operate in arduous conditions and is capable of taking off and landing on short runways….” (New York Times (Kevin Sack). “21 Die in Crash of Guard Plane in Georgia Rain.” 3-4-2001.)
March 7, 2001, AFDS: “ARLINGTON, Va., March 7, 2001 – The National Guard rallied to support the grief-stricken families and friends of 21 guardsmen killed March 3 in the crash of their twin-engine transport near Unadilla, Ga., 30 miles south of Macon….The Virginia guardsmen were members of the 203rd Red Horse Flight and were flying home through heavy rain after two weeks of annual training at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The aircrew of the C-23 Sherpa transport were assigned to Detachment 1, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation in Lakeland, Fla.
“No one survived the crash. National Guard historians were calling it among the worst peacetime tragedies in the National Guard’s 364-year history. The cause of the crash remains under investigation….
“Red Horse is an Air Force acronym for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, Engineer. The civil engineer units erect tent cities and other facilities for troops in the field. The C-23 Sherpa can carry up to 30 passengers and is also used to transport equipment and for airdrops and medical evacuations.” (AFDS. “National Guard Plane Crash Kills 21,” 3-7- 2001.)
Florida Guard Online, March 4, 2012: “Virginia Beach, Va. (March 4, 2012) — Family members, friends and fellow Airmen from the 203rd RED HORSE Squadron gathered at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach March 3 to honor the 18 unit members and three Florida Army National Guard aviators who were killed in a military transport crash 11 years ago. The Virginia Guard engineers and three Florida aviators from Detachment I, Company H, 171st Aviation Battalion were killed on March 3, 2001, as the 203rd members were returning home after completing a two-week military construction project at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The C-23 Sherpa they were flying in crashed in a cotton field near Unadilla, Ga….
“ The C-23 crash was the worst peacetime aviation disaster in the history of the National Guard, and the worst loss of life in the Virginia National Guard since World War II….
“RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, and the unit provides a highly mobile civil engineering response force to support contingency operations worldwide.
“203rd RED HORSE Airmen lost in the crash:
– Master Sgt. James Beninati of Virginia Beach, Va.
– Staff Sgt. Paul Blancato of Norfolk, Va.
– Tech. Sgt. Ernest Blawas of Virginia Beach, Va.
– Staff Sgt. Andrew H. Bridges of Chesapeake, Va.
– Master Sgt. Eric Bulman of Virginia Beach, Va.
– Staff Sgt. Paul Cramer of Norfolk, Va.
– Tech. Sgt. Michael East of Parksley, Va.
– Staff Sgt. Ronald Elkin of Norfolk, Va.
– Sgt. James Ferguson of Newport News, Va.
– Staff Sgt. Randy Johnson of Emporia, Va.
– Senior Airman Mathew Kidd of Hampton, Va.
– Master Sgt. Michael Lane of Moyock, Va.
– Tech. Sgt. Edwin Richardson of Virginia Beach, Va.
– Tech. Sgt. Dean Shelby of Virginia Beach, Va.
– Staff Sgt. John Sincavage of Chesapeake, Va.
– Staff Sgt. Gregory Skurupey of Gloucester, Va.
– Staff Sgt Richard Summerell of Franklin, Va.
– Maj. Frederick Watkins of Virginia Beach, Va.
“Florida Army Guard Soldiers lost in the crash:
– CW4 Johnny W. Duce of Orange Park, Fla.
– CW2 Eric P. Larson of Land-O-Lakes, Fla.
– Staff Sgt. Robert F. Ward Jr. of Lakeland, Fla.
(Florida Guard Online (Sgt. 1st Class A. J. Coyne, Virginia Guard Public Affairs). “National Guard remembers Airmen, Soldiers killed in fatal plane crash 11 years ago.” 3-4-2012.)
Sources
Air National Guard (Cotton Puryear, Virginia National Guard). “Virginia ceremony to remember Airmen, Soldiers killed in 2001 plane crash.” 3-1-2013. Accessed 11-14-2015 at: http://www.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123338510
Aircraft Crashes Record Office (Geneva, Switzerland). Georgia. Accessed 3/8/2009 at: http://www.baaa-acro.com/Pays/Etats-Unis/Georgie.htm
American Forces Press Service, DOD. “National Guard Plane Crash Kills 21,” 7 March 2001. Accessed at: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=45803
Aviation Safety Network. “Accident description…3 March 2001…09:55…Shorts C-23B+ Sherpa (330)…Florida Army National Guard…Fatalities: 21…Military.” Accessed 11-14-2015 at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20010303-0
Florida Guard Online (Sgt. 1st Class A. J. Coyne, Virginia Guard Public Affairs). “National Guard remembers Airmen, Soldiers killed in fatal plane crash 11 years ago.” 3-4-2012. Accessed 11-14-2015 at: http://www.fl.ng.mil/6832
New York Times (Kevin Sack). “21 Die in Crash of Guard Plane in Georgia Rain.” 3-4-2001. Accessed 11-14-2015 at: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/04/us/21-die-in-crash-of-guard-plane-in-georgia-rain.html