What happened
On a flight traveling from Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida, to Oceana NAS, Virginia, a Sherpa aircraft encountered intense meteorological disturbances while cruising at altitude over Georgia. The flight, operated by the 171st Aviation Regiment, was transporting a crew of three and 18 passengers at the time of the incident.
As the aircraft moved through the region, it encountered a thunderstorm characterized by heavy rainfall, severe turbulence, and windshear. Wind gusts were recorded reaching up to 72 knots. During this period of extreme weather, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of 100 feet in altitude over a three-second interval before transitioning into a nose-up attitude. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft underwent positive aerodynamic acceleration and entered an uncontrolled descent. During the fall, the airframe partially disintegrated, resulting in the aircraft crashing into an open field. The accident resulted in 21 fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered severe weather conditions including thunderstorms and heavy rain.
- Extreme windshear and wind gusts of 72 knots contributed to the loss of stability.
- The aircraft experienced structural failure/disintegration during the uncontrolled descent.