Aircraft crash on Mount Perucho during training flight

10 fatalities • Caguas, Puerto Rico • Landing (descent or approach)

A four-engine aircraft crashed into a mountain in Puerto Rico during a training mission, resulting in the deaths of all ten people on board.

What happened

During a local training mission, a four-engine aircraft was returning to Roosevelt Roads NAS in the evening. During the approach, the crew encountered challenging meteorological conditions characterized by rainfall, low cloud cover, and restricted visibility.

While performing a descent at a low altitude, the crew experienced a loss of situational awareness. During this phase, the aircraft failed to react to existing obstacle warnings. The plane subsequently struck trees and crashed into the summit of Mt Perucho. The force of the impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. There were 10 fatalities among the crew members on board.

Findings

The crew encountered poor weather, including rain and low visibility.
A critical factor in the accident was the loss of situational awareness during the low-altitude descent.
The flight crew did not respond to warnings regarding nearby obstacles.

Probable cause

The crew's loss of situational awareness during a low-altitude descent in poor weather led to a failure to avoid terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2002-08-07 Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident near Caguas, Puerto Rico?

A four-engine aircraft crashed into a mountain in Puerto Rico during a training mission, resulting in the deaths of all ten people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 2002-08-07 Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 10 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2002-08-07 involved a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, registration 90-0161, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Caguas, Puerto Rico.

What was the probable cause of the accident?