7 fatalities

1982-05-12: Lockheed C-130 Hercules (64-0543) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Judsonia, United States of America

Judsonia, United States of AmericaFlight

On May 12, 1982, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (registration 64-0543) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Judsonia, United States of America in flight. 7 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control in flight after a wing failed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781221549Data APIEditorial standards

A training aircraft departing Little Rock-Jacksonville AFB crashed near Judsonia after losing control during a formation join-up. All seven crew members were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Incident Details

During a local training mission, the crew of an aircraft departed Little Rock-Jacksonville AFB. En route, the aircraft reduced its altitude from 3,000 feet to 2,000 feet to join a formation of four other aircraft. While executing this maneuver, the crew lost control of the aircraft. The airplane subsequently entered a dive and impacted the ground in a wooded area near Judsonia. The impact was severe, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft. All seven crew members on board were killed in the crash.

Investigation and Probable Cause

The official investigation into the accident concluded that the loss of control occurred after a wing failed. This wing failure led to the inability to maintain controlled flight, causing the aircraft to crash. The probable cause, as stated in the findings, is loss of control in flight due to a wing failure.