2009 California mid-air collision
Encyclopedia
The 2009 California mid-air collision occurred on 29 October. It involved a Lockheed C-130H Hercules of the United States Coast Guard
and a Bell AH-1W Super Cobra of the United States Marine Corps
. There were no survivors from the nine crew aboard either aircraft.
on 29 October 2009 (02:10 on 30 October UTC
), a Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft
of the United States Coast Guard was involved in a mid-air collision with a Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter
of the United States Marine Corps. The location of the accident was 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) east off San Clemente Island
, California
. The Hercules was carrying a crew of seven and the Cobra was carrying a crew of two people. No survivors have been found. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a fireball in the sky. Debris from the collision was reported at the scene. The Hercules was on a mission to search for a missing rower while the Super Cobra was on a training flight. Two Sikorsky MH-60J helicopters along with , and were sent to search the area. , and later joined the search.
as 83-0007. It was based at the Coast Guard Air Station in Sacramento, California
.
, based at Camp Pendleton
. Personnel aboard the aircraft belonged to Marine Aircraft Group 39 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
, based at Miramar
.
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
and a Bell AH-1W Super Cobra of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. There were no survivors from the nine crew aboard either aircraft.
Accident
At 19:10 local timeUTC-7
thumb|300px|UTC−07: Blue , Orange , Yellow , Light Blue - Sea areasUTC−07:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of −07....
on 29 October 2009 (02:10 on 30 October UTC
Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is one of several closely related successors to Greenwich Mean Time. Computer servers, online services and other entities that rely on having a universally accepted time use UTC for that purpose...
), a Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
of the United States Coast Guard was involved in a mid-air collision with a Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
of the United States Marine Corps. The location of the accident was 24 kilometres (14.9 mi) east off San Clemente Island
San Clemente Island
San Clemente Island is the southernmost of the Channel Islands of California. It is owned and operated by the United States Navy, and is a part of Los Angeles County. Defined by the United States Census Bureau as Block Group 2 of Census Tract 5991 of Los Angeles County, California, it is long and...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The Hercules was carrying a crew of seven and the Cobra was carrying a crew of two people. No survivors have been found. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a fireball in the sky. Debris from the collision was reported at the scene. The Hercules was on a mission to search for a missing rower while the Super Cobra was on a training flight. Two Sikorsky MH-60J helicopters along with , and were sent to search the area. , and later joined the search.
C-130 Hercules
The C-130 Hercules involved was serial number 1705. The aircraft was c/n 382-4993 and it had formerly served with the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
as 83-0007. It was based at the Coast Guard Air Station in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
.
AH-1W Super Cobra
The Super Cobra was operated by Marine Aircraft Group 39Marine Aircraft Group 39
Marine Aircraft Group 39 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California that is currently composed of six AH-1W Super Cobra and UH-1N Huey light attack squadrons, three CH-46 Sea Knight squadrons and one logistics squadron...
, based at Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
. Personnel aboard the aircraft belonged to Marine Aircraft Group 39 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 3d Marine Aircraft Wing is the major west coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and provides the aviation combat element for I Marine Expeditionary Force...
, based at Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , formerly Naval Air Station Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
.