Date:	Wednesday 12 June 2002
Time:	21:24
Type:	Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II
Owner/operator:	United States Air Force - USAF
Registration:	84-0475
MSN:	5041
Year of manufacture:	1985
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 10
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	56 km SW of Gardez -   Afghanistan
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Sardeh Band Airport (SBF/OADS)
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The Hercules was participating in a night exfiltration mission to remove U.S. Army Special Forces troops from the area when it tried to take off from an improved airstrip at Sardeh Band. The plane impacted the ground and crashed in a barren area, 2.5 nautical miles from the airstrip.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The Accident Investigation Board President found by clear and convincing evidence that the cause of the flight mishap was the excessive cargo weight loaded on the mishap aircraft at the Band E Sardeh Dam landing zone. In particular, the weight was substantially more than the crew had planned for, and, as such, the previously planned, and later executed, takeoff speed was insufficient to support a successful takeoff and sustained flight departure by the aircraft. The Board President also found that a substantially contributing factor to the mishap was the current method of cargo weight planning utilized by the deployed ground forces, and accepted by the aircrews, that relies upon the personal estimations of personnel in the field as to the weight of cargo to be loaded on aircraft in a combat environment."

Executive summary accident investigation board MC-130H, 84-0475 Band E Sardeh Dam, Afghanistan 12 June 2002

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