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| Date: | Saturday 1 February 2025 |
| Time: | 09:30 |
| Type: |  Lockheed C-130A Hercules |
| Owner/operator: | TBM Inc |
| Registration: | N466TM |
| MSN: | 182-3173 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 8 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Daggett, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Blythe Airport, CA (BLH/KBLH) |
| Blythe Airport, CA (BLH/KBLH) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The operator reported that while conducting a high-altitude airdrop test, the 25,000lb airdrop package prematurely released while the airplane was maneuvering. The airdrop package extraction parachute did not deploy, and the package exited the rear of the airplane slowly, resulting in an excessive pitch-up and right yaw of the airplane. After the airdrop package exited the cargo door, the airplane pitched down violently, resulting in serious injuries to two crew members located in the cargo compartment. The aircraft returned to the airport without further incident. A post accident inspection revealed no aircraft damage and that the cargo locks were set improperly during loading.
The operator reported that the airplane had no pre accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: An inflight upset due to an improperly secured load that resulted in serious injuries.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199680
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N466TM
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N466TM/history/20250202/1836Z
https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/6/581902_1718709724.jpg (photo)
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Feb-2025 16:26 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 09-Feb-2025 16:27 | Captain Adam | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, ] |
| 09-Feb-2025 18:17 | ASN | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 04-Mar-2025 11:30 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Source, Category, Accident report, ] |
| 22-Apr-2025 19:57 | Captain Adam | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
| 30-Apr-2025 09:41 | ASN | Updated [Accident report, ] |
| 30-Apr-2025 09:41 | ASN | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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