Wittering - Tromsø

On September 12, 1972 at 12:00 AM, Wittering - Tromsø experienced a crash involving Lockheed C-130 Hercules, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Tromsø Troms.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

12 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 12 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 12, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was completing a flight from RAF Wittering to Tromsø, carrying a Harrier load. After touchdown on a runway covered with slush, the airplane deviated to the left. The Aircraft Captain, without saying 'he had control' feathered the two starboard engines. The co-pilot, believing he was still in control, applied right rudder and brakes. Instead of a gentle correction to the centreline, the aircraft swung hard right and left the runway. As it crossed over the 'monnie' drain the cockpit area of the fuselage broke off by the crew door, coming to rest at an angle to the main fuselage, the tail also broke off. At this stage the crew 'legged it' through the flight deck windows leaving everything still switched on and live! The passenger had trapped his hand on the 'towel rail' when it folded under the impact, the navigator gave him a 'whack' which loosened his hand but broke his fingers.On hitting the ground outside the aircraft, the ALM had a heart attack (non-fatal). The main fuselage was covered in dirt which had entered through the break and if the ALM and pax had been sitting there they would have been killed. The Load remained 'nailed to the floor' and not one bottle was broken! Crew: F/Lt Charles Collier, F/O Brian Clucas, F/S Taff Thomas, F/S Tony ‘Chomper’ Lamb, Sgt Ivan Gervais, Sgt Merv Corke, Cpl Keith Simmonds, Cpl Tom Blues, SAC Bob Ford, SAC Bob Thacker, SAC Keri Eynon, SAC Fred Kitts. Source: http://ukmamsoba.org/obb022318_light.html

Aircraft reference details include registration XV194, MSN 4214, year of manufacture 1967.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 69.6819°, 18.9725°.