Florida National Guard

Short 330

The Sherpa departed Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida, on flight PAT528 to Oceana NAS, Virginia, carrying 18 passengers and a crew of three. While in cruising altitude over Georgia, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls, severe turbulences, windshear conditions and wind gusting up to 72 knots. The aircraft became unstable, lost 100 feet in three seconds then adopted a nose up attitude. Within the next 12 seconds, the aircraft suffered a positive aerodynamic acceleration then entered an uncontrolled descent, partially disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in an open field. All 21 occupants were killed. Crew (171st Aviation Regiment Lakeland): CW4 Johnny W. Duce, CW2 Erik P. Larson, S/Sgt Robert F. Ward Jr. Passengers (213rd Red Horse Flight, Virginia Beach): M/Sgt James Beninati, S/Sgt Paul J. Blancato, T/Sgt Ernest Blawas, S/Sgt Andrew H. Bridges, M/Sgt Eric G. Bulman, S/Sgt Paul E. Cramer, T/Sgt Michael E. East, S/Sgt Ronald L. Elkin, S/Sgt James P. Ferguson, S/Sgt Randy V. Johnson, SRA Mathrew K. Kidd, M/Sgt Michael E. Lane, T/Sgt Edwin B. Richardson, T/Sgt Dean J. Shelby, S/Sgt John L. Sincavage, S/Sgt Gregory T. Skurupey, S/Sgt Richard L. Summerell, Maj Frederick V. Watkins III.