Incident Overview
On 1 November 2013, a Lockheed Hercules aircraft conducting a search-and-rescue mission for a 12-foot boat that had been missing for two days collided with a Bell AH-1 Super Cobra operated by the United States Marine Corps. The collision occurred approximately 24 kilometers off the coast of San Clemente Island, California. Both aircraft crashed into the sea, and all occupants on board both aircraft are missing. Search-and-rescue efforts were abandoned on the same day as no trace of either aircraft or the occupants was found.
Circumstances of the Collision
The Bell AH-1 Super Cobra was participating in an exercise within an area reserved for training missions. At the time of the accident, the Cobra had its anticollision lights and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder switched off.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation conducted by the United States Air Force and other authorities concluded that no single factor or individual act or omission caused the collision. Instead, the accident was determined to be the consequence of a tragic confluence of events, missed opportunities, and procedure and policy issues in an airspace where most aircraft operate under a "see-and-avoid" regime. A contributory factor identified in the investigation was that Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC) San Diego did not provide operational priority to the crew of the Lockheed Hercules.