1971 — Nov 12, USAF Lockheed C-130 takeoff plane crash, fire, Little Rock AFB, AR– 10

–11 Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, Geneva. “Crash of Lockheed C-130 Hercules…”
–4 crew (all)
–7 passengers of 8
–10 Abilene Reporter-News, TX. “Air Force Plane Crash Kills 10.” 11-14-1971, 6A.
–10 ASN. Accident descrip. USAF Lockheed C-130E Hercules, 12 Nov 1971, Little Rock AFB
–10 Baugher, Joseph F. 1969 USAF Serial Numbers. 1-10-2012 revision.
–10 Herkybirds.com. C130 Aircrew Losses+USMC+USN+USCG. 2011.
–10 Laurel Leader-Call, MS. “10 Die, 1 Hurt in Fiery Crash.” 11-12-1971, p. 1.
–10 NFPA. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1971,” Fire Journal, Vol. 66, No. 3, May 1972, p. 63.
–10 News Herald, Panama City, FL. “Crash Kills Ten Airmen.” 11-13-1971, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“First flight: 1969
“Crew: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 11
“Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
“Total: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 11….
“Location: Jacksonville-Little Rock AFB, AR…
“Phase: Takeoff…
“Departure airport:: Jacksonville-Little Rock AFB, AR…
“Destination airport: Jacksonville-Little Rock AFB, AR….
“Narrative: Stalled on takeoff and crashed. The C-130 was on a routine familiarization flight over the state of Arkansas.” (Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Air Force, Lockheed C-130E Hercules, 1971, Nov 12. Jacksonville-Little Rock AFB, AR.)

Baugher: “Lockheed C-130E-LM Hercules….6578 (c/n 382-4353) crashed at Little Rock AFB Nov 12, 1971. 10 of 11 onboard killed.” (Baugher, Joe F. 1969 USAF Serial Numbers. 1-10-2012 rev.)

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives: “While taking off at Jacksonville AFV, northeast of Little Rock, the four engine airplane stalled and crashed in flames. A passenger was rescued while 11 other occupants were killed.” (Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, Geneva. “Crash of Lockheed C-130 Hercules at Jacksonville AFB: 11 Killed.” Accessed 2-24-2022.)

National Fire Protection Association: [This]…transportation fire involved the crash and fire of a military C-130 aircraft on November 15 in Little Rock, Arkansas. During landing the aircraft hit the ground and broke up, allowing a considerable amount of fuel to spill. Explosive ignition of the fuel trapped ten of the 11 crew members inside. Although crash crews were alerted as the aircraft touched down, the fire involvement prevented them from rescuing any of the men still on hoard.” (NFPA. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1971,” Fire Journal, Vol. 66, No. 3, May 1972, p. 63.)

Newspapers:

Nov 12, United Press International: “Little Rock, Ark. (UPI) — A C130 cargo plane loaded with 20 tons of jet fuel crashed on takeoff at Little Rock Air Force Base today and burst into flames, killing 10 of the 11 crew members and student airmen aboard. ‘ten were killed and there is one in the hospital,’ a base spokesman said. The survivor was in critical condition.

“The C130, carrying a fuel load of 40,000 pounds, lifted off the runway, then suddenly nosed back down on the concrete. The fuel spilled across the pavement and burst into flames, creating a rapidly expanding lake of fire with the plane in the middle.

“The four-engine Hercules transport normally carries a crew of four, but there were 11 men on the flight, which was described as a routine training session. The rest were student crew members.

“The flight was to have been a ‘routine familiarization flight over the state of Arkansas,’ the Air Force spokesman said.

“The crash happened at 7:11 a.m. on a clear, sunny day. There was little wind the temperature was 46 degrees.” (Laurel Leader-Call, MS. “10 Die, 1 Hurt in Fiery Crash.” 11-12-1971, p. 1.)

Nov 13: “Little Rock, Ark. (UPI)…. The survivor, S.Sgt. Louis F. Hribar, the loadmaster in the crew, was thrown clear of the wreckage. He was taken to Brooke Army Medical Hospital in San Antonio, Tex. He was listed in critical condition.

“Five of the 11 men aboard were student airmen learning to be pilots.

“ ‘It was just completely engulfed in flames — that’s all you can say,’ said Col. William Davies, base fire marshal, who directed 12 units to fight the blaze that boiled 40 feet high and burned black an area 100 yards long and 60 yards wide.

“The 4,000-horsepower cargo plane crashed on takeoff at 7-11 a.m. on what was described as a routine training mission over Arkansas. The aircraft made it off the ground, then winged over and struck about 20 feet to the side of the runway, exploding on impact. No immediate cause of the crash was given. An Air Force board of inquiry was appointed to investigate.

“Davies said it appeared the survivor had been thrown clear in the crash ‘because he made it out unassisted.’ One base fireman was injured fighting the flames. He was treated at the base hospital and released.

“Maj. William R. Wirth, base information officer, said the plane used up about 11,000 feet of runway on takeoff. It was taking off on a west-bound runway into a clear morning on an ideal flying day. The Hercules transport struck and turned completely around from its takeoff direction. The nose and tail sections were intact but the rest was charred rubble.

“The Air Force did not say if there had been any last emergency communications from the plane to the control tower.” (News Herald, Panama City, FL. “Crash Kills Ten Airmen.” 11-13-71, p. 1.)

Nov 14, Associated Press: “Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. (AP)…. It was the worst air tragedy in terms of lives lost in the history of the base….An investigating board was convened soon after the crash. It is headed by Maj. Gen. David I. Liebman, vice commander of the 12th Air Force.

“The four-engine aircraft, loaded with 40,000 gallons pf fuel, was 8,000 feet down the runway and 200 feet in the air when it plummeted to earth to the left of the runway and burst into fire.

“S. Sgt. Louis F. Hribar, 30, of Jacksonville, the plane’s loadmaster, was riding in the tail section and apparently was thrown from the plane by the crash….

“Gibney [Col. Richard J. commander of the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing] said Hribar told authorities he knew of no malfunction prior to the crash. The wing commander also said no communication from the pilot to the base tower indicated a malfunction.

“The aircraft was scheduled to drop a 6,000-pound load module in a mock combat drop and then fly back to the Little Rock base.

“Gibney said that after leaving the ground, the plane apparently went to the left and the crew probably was correcting the line of flight back to the runway when the plane fell….

“The dead were identified as:

Capt. Laurence F. Asher, 31, of Port Washington, N.Y., an instructor navigator.
M. Sgt. Orville D. Gearhart, 39, of Aberdeen, S.D., an instructor flight engineer.
Capt. James B. Raycraft, 26, of Los Angeles, Calif., an instructor pilot.
2nd Lt. Michael W. Hodge, 24, of Salem, Ill., a trainee from Laughlin AFB, Tex.
1st Lt. David C. Moule, 24, a trainee from Robbins AFB, Ga.
T. Sgt. Emory V. McKee Jr., 31 [unclear] of Dover, Del., a trainee flight engineer.
Airman 1.C. David M. Bloomberg, 22, a trainee from Lexington AFB.
Maj. Paul S. Friedler, 34, of Sacramento, Calif., a trainee pilot.
2nd Lt. William R. Gamboe, 23, of Lexington, Ky., a trainee pilot.
S. Sgt. William H. Dintleman Jr., 32, of Hampton, Va.”

(Abilene Reporter-News, TX. “Air Force Plane Crash Kills 10.” 11-14-1971, 6A.)

According to C-130Hercules.net. “Rudder Fin Stall,” the crash was caused by a fin stall: “Fin stall is encountered at low-speed high AOA [angle of attack] condition with a significant side slip (15-20 degrees) in which the rudder and ailerons are cross controlled with the nose of the airplane in level or positive pitch attitude and engines developing power above flight idle. The scenario begins with significant rudder buffet which permeates through the fuselage and, if allowed to continue, progresses to a rudder hard over (in the direction of deflection) and a rapid roll in the opposite direction. Unless there is immediate action to stop it, the side slip exaggerates rapidly to approximately 46 degrees and stops. It will bruise your ribs if the arm rests are down. Roll accelerates rapidly in the opposite direction. The recovery is analogous to a spin recovery; throttles to flight idle; neutralize the rudder which might take in excess of 100 lbs force; level the wings and if able, move the control column forward (not abruptly) to get the nose down to a negative pitch angle; apply power to regain energy.”

Sources

Abilene Reporter-News, TX. “Air Force Plane Crash Kills 10.” 11-14-1971, 6A. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=72616907

Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Air Force, Lockheed C-130E Hercules, 1971, Nov 12. Jacksonville-Little Rock AFB, AR. Accessed 3-10-2012 at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19711112-1

Baugher, Joseph F. 1969 USAF Serial Numbers. 1-10-2012 revision. Accessed 3-10-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1969.html

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives, Geneva. “Crash of Lockheed C-130 Hercules at Jacksonville AFB: 11 Killed.” Accessed 2-24-2022 at: https://baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-lockheed-c-130e-hercules-jacksonville-afb-11-killed

C-130Hercules.net. “Rudder Fin Stall.” Accessed 3-11-2012 at:
http://c-130hercules.net/archive/index.php/t-1989.html

Herkybirds.com. C130 Aircrew Losses+USMC+USN+USCG. 2011. Accessed 3-11-2012 at: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/86886629/C130-Aircrew-LossesUSMCUSNUSCG—HerkyBirdscom

Laurel Leader-Call, MS. “10 Die, 1 Hurt in Fiery Crash.” 11-12-1971, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=157712271

National Fire Protection Association. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1971,” Fire Journal, Vol. 66, No. 3, May 1972, pp. 63-65.

News Herald, Panama City, FL. “Crash Kills Ten Airmen.” 11-13-1971, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=35435484