Not sure how this happens, but the pilot of the Hercules did one heck of job - found a pic on WarZone that shows the plane minus a outboard port prop blade, minus an entire starboard prop, fuel pouring out and a wheels up landing in a field. BZ. WarZone Marine Planes Collide

ATC - It was a glider

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FlyingScot,

QB - USMC, VMGR-352 - MCAS Miramar, California "Raiders"

Glad all involved were able to walk away.

Looks like the left outboard fuel tank (the one with the left side drogue reel, hose and basket), got left "back there", with fuel pouring out on the ground. Damage to the #1 prop and the all the blades on #3 and #4, as well as top cowling on #4.

That thing was (barely powered) glider.

Turkey birds are tough.

Glad all made it from both aircraft.

A good outcome of a bad event.

flashguy

How will they get the C130 out of that field? I assume they will have to build a road and bring in heavy machinery, including cranes, and start to dismantle.

I don't know how big, and heavy, the wings and fuselage are. Can the fuselage, minus wings and tail, fit onto a flatbed trailer and be hauled off to an airport facilty/hangar to be rebuilt? I'm sure it's not just a question of the physical size of the fuselage and wings, but also the weight must be quite a bit.

Or will they just declare it as salvage, break apart and haul away to the razor blade factory?

I don't know anything about repairing airplanes but it looks like most of the plane is in good and reusable condition. I'm thinking the dirt was relatively kind to it as opposed to hard concrete?

And again, I don't know these things work, but I'm going to take a guess and assume the farmer is going to get a nice check from the government for crop disruption.

Then there's the environmental cleanup, seeing as they are in california after all.

I'm just glad the crew members are ok.
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The damage of concern isn't what you can see. It's what you can't.

All involved survived. If any of either aircraft are salvageable, that's a bonus.

That C-130 will likely be parted out after the investigation is complete.

Dismantling that C-130 for surface movement is a lot of work. I've done it before.

The condition of the airplane is a testament to the design. It's a great airplane, when the wings stay on.

Having tanked off a C-130 a time or two, I'm looking at the picture of the C-130 and trying to figure out just how the hell it sustained all that damage in a collision. The Mishap Investigation Report (MIR) is certainly going to be an interesting read.

Sure, it's speculation, but in the old weapons development and testing world I saw a lot of films, stills and actual after mission damage to aircraft from some tests. The things that physics at high airspeed can accomplish will make you say "Wow!" outloud, (and, can I see that again?)

The only thing I can imagine is the F-35 came in closing too fast, took the port outboard tank and pylon, as it passed forward of the wing, it departed controlled flight and ended up crossing in front of the KC-130 to the starboard side passing under and between the starboard engines contacting the nacelles, inboard tank and pylon and blades on #3 and #4.

All that fuel can't be good for the poor farmers crops.

Glad everyone is OK.

quote:

Originally posted by highroundcount:
All that fuel can't be good for the poor farmers crops.

The standard carrier for chemicals when spraying crops, for decades, was diesel fuel. Everything grown, eaten by every american, for many years, had been coated in diesel (jet fuel--kerosine).

Crops are frequently chemigated now; chemicals mixed with irrigation water. Farm land is saturated with chemical.

The military will likely have to remove the soil and replace it, when the aircraft is removed. Farmer brown is in for a windfall.

quote:

Originally posted by Tailhook 84:
Having tanked off a C-130 a time or two, I'm looking at the picture of the C-130 and trying to figure out just how the hell it sustained all that damage in a collision. The Mishap Investigation Report (MIR) is certainly going to be an interesting read.

I've tanked of C-130s a lot as it was SOP for Harriers. I can only imagine that the F35 pilot had way too much closure on the basket, overshot and impacted the tanker. Even for the Harrier it was challenging at times to tank off the 130 - we would set our flaps to STOL to help provide lift as we slowed to tanker speed. Not sure if the F-35 has the same procedure.

quote:

Originally posted by highroundcount:
All that fuel can't be good for the poor farmers crops.

Make that "formerly" poor farmer.

Has anyone seen the F35's remains? Bet it didn't fare so well when it hit whatever.

The F-35 was reduced to chicklet sized pieces.

https://twitter.com/VicTori0uS...on-sea-in-california

holy crap - someone was there to film it

Juan Browne, Blancolirio on YouTube, has a good video where he explains what he knows so far. He had a career in the USAF flying C141 Starlifters and other aircraft, and as well being a 777 Captain in the airlines. He knows his stuff.





Link to original video: https://youtu.be/u19R0zfusiQ
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As a Marine navigator with many flight hours, and numerous refueling missions, thank God all are safe. The investigation will be interesting.
S/F

Controller's gonna get some shit for trying to give a phone number to an aircraft with two engines out and likely on fire. Might have been directed to though.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
The only thing I can imagine is the F-35 came in closing too fast, took the port outboard tank and pylon, as it passed forward of the wing, it departed controlled flight and ended up crossing in front of the KC-130 to the starboard side passing under and between the starboard engines contacting the nacelles, inboard tank and pylon and blades on #3 and #4.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
Juan Browne, Blancolirio on YouTube,

Juan speculated that some of the damage you see was likely caused during the crash landing. Makes more sense perhaps than trying to figure out how it all was caused by the other plane.

How do you extract a C130 from a field in the middle of nowhere? Take it apart and crane the pieces onto a flatbed?