Narrative:
Hercules 130322, radio call-sign BOXTOP 22, was a scheduled resupply flight from Thule Air Base in Greenland to Canadian Forces station (CFS) Alert, an isolated station on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island. The flight departed Thule on 30 October 1991 at 20:05 UTC (16:05 hours local time), carrying five crew members and 13 passengers, and approximately 18,000 litres of arctic diesel fuel in a large cylindrical aluminum tank. The passengers were seated in a small area directly ahead of this bulk fuel delivery system (BFDS).
BOXTOP 22 was the second of three aircraft bound for CFS Alert on the afternoon of 30 October. CF6185, a CC-130 not associated with the BOXTOP operation, was approximately 10 minutes ahead of BOXTOP 22 and BOXTOP 21, another CC-130, was approximately 20 minutes behind. The weather was reported as scattered cloud at 9,000 feet, a thin scattered layer at 18,000 feet and ten miles visibility in light snow. The visibility was such that the crew of BOXTOP 22 could observe the rotating beacon of CF6185 on the CFS Alert runway from approximately 25 miles away. The crew was communicating with the radar operator deployed at Alert for the Boxtop operation. The aircraft commander's original intention was to have the First Officer (FO) fly a Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) approach to runway 29. Believing that there was a potential conflict with the following aircraft, the commander elected, instead, to fly a visual approach to expedite his arrival. The aircraft crashed 10.5 miles southeast of the airport while manoeuvring for the approach. Poor weather, total darkness and rugged terrain were all factors in delaying the arrival of rescue personnel for approximately 32 hours. Four passengers died because of injuries suffered in the crash and the commander succumbed to hypothermia before rescue personnel could arrive on scene.
Cause Factors:
PERSONNEL PILOT (32A) JUDGEMENT
The pilot chose to continue a visual approach after he had lost sight of the airfield complex lighting and when insufficient visual cues existed to confirm safe terrain clearance.
PERSONNEL PILOT (32A) TECHNIQUE
The pilot failed to maintain the briefed altitude.
PERSONNEL CO-PILOT/FIRST OFFICER JUDGEMENT
The Co-pilot failed to inform the Pilot that he was not completely satisfied with the decision to descent to 1,500 feet. In addition, although both the Co-pilot and the Flight Engineer were aware that the Pilot had descended at least 100 feet below his briefed level off altitude, they failed to advise him of the error.
PERSONNEL NAVIGATOR TECHNIQUE
Despite the multiple aids available to him, the Navigator for reasons unknown, misidentified the aircraft position and confirmed an incorrect safety altitude
accident date: 30-10-1991
type: Lockheed CC-130E Hercules
registration: 130322
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 30 October 1991 |
| Time: | 14:30 |
| Type: |  Lockheed CC-130E Hercules |
| Operator: | Canadian Armed Forces |
| Registration: | 130322 |
| MSN: | 4192 |
| First flight: | 1967 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 13 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 18 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 22 km (13.8 mls) SE of CFS Alert, NU (YLT) ( Canada)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Thule Air Base (THU/BGTL), Greenland |
| Alert Airport, NU (YLT/CYLT), Canada |
Hercules 130322, radio call-sign BOXTOP 22, was a scheduled resupply flight from Thule Air Base in Greenland to Canadian Forces station (CFS) Alert, an isolated station on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island. The flight departed Thule on 30 October 1991 at 20:05 UTC (16:05 hours local time), carrying five crew members and 13 passengers, and approximately 18,000 litres of arctic diesel fuel in a large cylindrical aluminum tank. The passengers were seated in a small area directly ahead of this bulk fuel delivery system (BFDS).
BOXTOP 22 was the second of three aircraft bound for CFS Alert on the afternoon of 30 October. CF6185, a CC-130 not associated with the BOXTOP operation, was approximately 10 minutes ahead of BOXTOP 22 and BOXTOP 21, another CC-130, was approximately 20 minutes behind. The weather was reported as scattered cloud at 9,000 feet, a thin scattered layer at 18,000 feet and ten miles visibility in light snow. The visibility was such that the crew of BOXTOP 22 could observe the rotating beacon of CF6185 on the CFS Alert runway from approximately 25 miles away. The crew was communicating with the radar operator deployed at Alert for the Boxtop operation. The aircraft commander's original intention was to have the First Officer (FO) fly a Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) approach to runway 29. Believing that there was a potential conflict with the following aircraft, the commander elected, instead, to fly a visual approach to expedite his arrival. The aircraft crashed 10.5 miles southeast of the airport while manoeuvring for the approach. Poor weather, total darkness and rugged terrain were all factors in delaying the arrival of rescue personnel for approximately 32 hours. Four passengers died because of injuries suffered in the crash and the commander succumbed to hypothermia before rescue personnel could arrive on scene.
Probable Cause:
Cause Factors:
PERSONNEL PILOT (32A) JUDGEMENT
The pilot chose to continue a visual approach after he had lost sight of the airfield complex lighting and when insufficient visual cues existed to confirm safe terrain clearance.
PERSONNEL PILOT (32A) TECHNIQUE
The pilot failed to maintain the briefed altitude.
PERSONNEL CO-PILOT/FIRST OFFICER JUDGEMENT
The Co-pilot failed to inform the Pilot that he was not completely satisfied with the decision to descent to 1,500 feet. In addition, although both the Co-pilot and the Flight Engineer were aware that the Pilot had descended at least 100 feet below his briefed level off altitude, they failed to advise him of the error.
PERSONNEL NAVIGATOR TECHNIQUE
Despite the multiple aids available to him, the Navigator for reasons unknown, misidentified the aircraft position and confirmed an incorrect safety altitude
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» The C-130 Hercules turns 50 / by Vic Johnson. In: Air Force (Vol. 28 No.4, Winter 2004/2005)Photos
accident date: 30-10-1991
type: Lockheed CC-130E Hercules
registration: 130322
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Thule Air Base to Alert Airport, NU as the crow flies is 672 km (420 miles).
Distance from Thule Air Base to Alert Airport, NU as the crow flies is 672 km (420 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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