That's not a pothole.

[bcp]

THIS is a pothole.

Crash of a Lockheed MC-130H Hercules at Qayyarah Airfield West AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

www.baaa-acro.com

Bruce

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[NeoBlackdog]

I find it difficult to believe that the pilot couldn't see that! WTH?

 

[Nosferatu]

Are pilots wearing blindfolds now?

 

[bcp]

I find it difficult to believe that the pilot couldn't see that! WTH?

It was at night, unmarked, and no notification that it was there.

"Probable cause:

The Board President determined the causes of the accident are:
1) A failure on the part of the mishap site Assistant S-3 (Battle Captain) to disseminate timely Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) information via the appropriate channels,
2) the failure of the Army project manager for construction at the mishap site to ensure the construction was properly marked and....

Bruce

 

[lucusloc]

Granted this was 20 years ago, but that is a pretty big "oopsies" on the part of everyone involved. You'd think everyone would know that NOTAMs are important when the runway is not going to be operational for a little while.

 

[Mrmerlinn]

NOTAMs are Notices To Air MEN. Maybe it was a blond female pilot who thought the NOTAM didn't apply to her!!

 

[Member 45541]

Oregon Pothole!

 

[P7M13]

I've camped in the desert at night, and even in a full moon, if the surface was right, it was one dark place. Add to that, were they landing using NV?

 

[titsonritz]

I find it difficult to believe that the pilot couldn't see that! WTH?

Are pilots wearing blindfolds now?

From the article…

"The MC-130H Hercules plane was on a nighttime logistics transport mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom."

Furthermore, a reading of the "probable cause" section may be in order.

 

[lucusloc]

NOTAMs are Notice To Air MEN. Maybe it was a blond female pilot who thought the NOTAM didn't apply to her!!

The incident investigation indicated that the NOTAMs did not go out, or did not make it to the pilots before that left for their delivery mission.

 

[nammac]

I can understand how that wasn't seen in a nighttime landing. And considering the operations, understand why it may not have traditionally been construction markings. But I don't understand how the crew wasn't advised of the hazard….

 

[lucusloc]

I can understand how that wasn't seen in a nighttime landing. And considering the operations, understand why it may not have traditionally been construction markings. But I don't understand how the crew wasn't advised of the hazard….

That was the main failure identified in the report. "Did no one think a giant hole in the runway was worth reporting up to global operations?!"

 

[Nosferatu]

From the article…

"The MC-130H Hercules plane was on a nighttime logistics transport mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom."

Furthermore, a reading of the "probable cause" section may be in order.

Someday I'm hoping someone will invent an illumination device that can be affixed to transportation equipment that will enable visibility in a darkened environment.

Until then, we crash into big holes.

 

[titsonritz]

NOTAMs are Notice To Air MEN. Maybe it was a blond female pilot who thought the NOTAM didn't apply to her!!

Hard to apply a NOTAM when one doesn't exist.

 

[lucusloc]

Someday I'm hoping someone will invent an illumination device that can be affixed to transportation equipment that will enable visibility in a darkened environment.

Until then, we crash into big holes.

I am willing to bet that "illumination devices" were probably verboten in the RO for the area. Something about attracting unwanted attention (or incoming fire).

 

[gmerkt]

Granted this was 20 years ago, but that is a pretty big "oopsies" on the part of everyone involved. You'd think everyone would know that NOTAMs are important when the runway is not going to be operational for a little while.

Certainly one isolated incident, but emblematic of leadership/management failures throughout that entire conflict. From the Sec Def on down. Read the book Fiasco, by Thomas Ricks.

 

[1911Fanatic]

THIS is a pothole.

Crash of a Lockheed MC-130H Hercules at Qayyarah Airfield West AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

www.baaa-acro.com

View attachment 2198362


Bruce

Stevie Wonder got his pilot's license

 

[Member 55555]

One or two orange traffic cones would have prevented that...

 

[Nosferatu]

I am willing to bet that "illumination devices" were probably verboten in the RO for the area. Something about attracting unwanted attention (or incoming fire).

I'm not sure if you've ever been around aircraft that's in the middle of falling out of the sky, but from what I've personally witnessed, the process isn't exactly inconspicuous, regardless of light emission.

 

[Ruger Rich]

Ever watch Air Disasters on the Smithsonian Channel