C-141 Guides Lost Convair

A C-141 Starlifter aircrew from March Air Reserve Base (CA) led three people on a civilian cargo aircraft to safety after an apparent navigational-equipment malfunction caused them to become disoriented in bad weather off the coast of New Zealand.

"They appeared to have no reliable navigational fix," navigator Maj. Jeff Puckett told a TV news crew. "That’s not a good place to be over the South Pacific."

The two Canadian pilots and a New Zealander engineer were flying a twin-engine Convair 580 (file photo below) from American Samoa to New Zealand on June 18 when air traffic controllers became concerned the aircraft had not appeared on their radar 20 minutes before its scheduled landing.

The controllers contacted the plane but lost the connection before determining its location. Officials at the National Rescue Coordination Center in Wellington launched a rescue effort and contacted the March reservists, who were on their way to Christchurch, New Zealand, to participate in aircraft software testing. The aircrew from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing flew east and within an hour made contact with the aircraft about 250 nautical miles off the country’s coast.

"The sound of their voices indicated they were very happy to see our aircraft," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Richenberger, the C-141 pilot.

The Air Force Reserve Command crew directed the civilian pilot to turn on his emergency locator beacon, and they escorted the aircraft to a safe landing at Gisborne, New Zealand.

A malfunction apparently led the civilian crew off course during their flight. They knew they were in trouble when their instruments said they were over New Zealand but all they could see was the Pacific Ocean, the crew said.

[Thanks to Staff Sgt. Kristin Mack, 452nd Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs, and AFRC News Service --ed.]

FMI: www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=93