Accident Occurred December 1, Both Aircraft Landed Safely

Air Mobility Command released the results of its accident investigation board (AIB) regarding a Dec. 1, 2014, mid-air collision near Pope Army Airfield and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

A C-130 Hercules assigned to Air Force Reserve Command’s 440th Airlift Wing, and a C-27J assigned to the Army Special Operations Command Flight Company, both at Pope AAF, collided approximately 8 miles south of Mackall AAF. Both aircraft declared emergencies and landed safely, the C-27 at Mackall AAF and the C-130 at Pope AAF. There were no injuries to the eight C-130 crewmembers or the five C-27 crewmembers.

The investigation identified several relevant human factors in the mishap: a breakdown in visual scan resulting in insufficient clearing of the aircraft flight path by both aircrews; both aircrews were over-reliant on Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems to alert them to potential traffic conflicts; and both aircrews exhibited complacency due to the routine nature of the mission profiles, despite the inherent risk associated with night, low-level visual flight rules operations on night vision goggles.
 
The AIB report is the result of an investigation that included witness testimony; input from technical experts; review of planning, maintenance, and training records; and review for compliance with Air Force directives and guidance.

(Images from USAF Report. Top: C-27 damage. Bottom: C-130 damage)

FMI: Full Report