1985 CFB Edmonton mid-air collision

1985 CFB Edmonton mid-air collision
Accident
Date29 March 1985 (1985-03-29)
SummaryMid-air collision
SiteCFB Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
53°41′14.1″N 113°28′40.7″W / 53.687250°N 113.477972°W / 53.687250; -113.477972
Total fatalities10
Total survivors0
First aircraft

A Canadian Armed Forces CC-130H Hercules in modern livery similar to the aircraft involved
TypeLockheed CC-130H Hercules
OperatorCanadian Armed Forces
Call signTrucker Lead
Registration130330
Occupants6
Crew6
Fatalities6
Survivors0
Second aircraft

A Canadian Armed Forces CC-130H Hercules in modern livery similar to the aircraft involved
TypeLockheed CC-130H Hercules
OperatorCanadian Armed Forces
Call signTrucker 2
Registration130331
Occupants4
Crew4
Fatalities4
Survivors0

On 29 March 1985, two Lockheed CC-130H Hercules of the Royal Canadian Air Force collided mid-air above the Canadian Forces base in Edmonton, then called CFB Namao, killing all 10 on board both aircraft. As of 2025 it is the deadliest aircraft accident in Alberta history and the deadliest Royal Canadian Air Force crash since the 1968 loss of a Canadair CL-28-2 Argus off Puerto Rico.[1]

Aircraft

Both aircraft were from the No. 435 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force and were manufactured in 1974.[2][3] Trucker Lead (serial number 130330) possessed a unique camouflage paint scheme called "grey ghost" which it was painted with in 1982 that featured three shades of grey rather than green like on subsequent aircraft.[4]

Personnel

The crew onboard both aircraft was composed of seven members of the No. 435 Squadron, two members of 429 Transport Squadron from CFB Winnipeg, and one exchange officer.[4]

Trucker Lead was being flown by Capt. Lonnie Register, an exchange pilot from the US Air Force. Capt. Register was a Vietnam veteran who was in his last year of service before he planned on becoming a commercial pilot.[5] Trucker 2 was being flown by Capt. Robert W. Drake.[6]

Accident

The accident occurred at 7:15 PM following a ceremonial flypast of the mess hall to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the RCAF.[7] The aircraft were part of three plane formation with Trucker Lead in the front.[8] The planes began an attempt of a manoeuvre known as the "battle break" that involved climbing and then turning in unison. During a left bank at 1,500 feet on approach to the runway, Trucker 2's wing collided with the wing of Trucker Lead causing both planes to plummet to the ground and explode near the end of the runway.[9][10] One of the engines from the planes fell and crashed into a garage were one person was present causing minimal damage.[9] One of the aircraft crashed into a wooden warehouse storing a Avro Lancaster from WWII while the other crashed between two fuel storage tanks scattering debris over an area equivalent to four city blocks.[5] Both planes burst into flames, levelling the warehouse and melting nearby vehicles. The explosions shot fireballs into the sky which were visible from nearby Namao.[7] Miraculously neither of the fuel tanks ignited despite the intense heat.[7]

Victims

The RCAF publicly released the names of the Canadian servicemen who died in the accident after contacting loved ones.[4][7] Capt. Register's identity was confirmed by a public affairs officer for the Pentagon.[10]

Aftermath

It took one and a half hours to put the fire caused by the crash under control.[9] During the night as the fire continued to rage residents of northeast Edmonton were asked to restrict water use in order to keep the water pressure high for the firefighters.[10] Both flight recorders were recovered from the crash and a five member inquiry was led as to the cause of the accident.[11] The accident report has never been made public but a news release on the report by the Department of National Defence stated that "based on information from the flight recorders and eyewitness reports, the investigating team was able to determine the first aircraft began the climb as briefed, but delayed the turn by four to five seconds."[11] The total damage of the accident was estimated at $50 million (equivalent to close to $130 million adjusting for inflation).[11] Base commander at the time Col. Peter DeTracey was moved to a desk job in Ottawa following the incident. Despite the accident report seemingly clearing him of wrongdoing in the eyes of many, he was not returned his position.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Crash of a Canadair CL-28-2 Argus off Puerto Rico: 16 killed". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Friday 29 March 1985". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Friday 29 March 1985". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "Lockheed Hercules". CASPIR. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  5. ^ a b Hayes, Scott (23 January 2020). "A son's search for history and truth". St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  6. ^ "Captain Robert William Drake". Canadian Virtual War Memorial. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d "Planes hit, crash". The Evening News. 29 March 1985. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  8. ^ "10 believed dead in Canadian crash". The Bryan Times. 29 March 1985. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  9. ^ a b c "Two huge transport jets collide". The Bulletin. 31 March 1985. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "Pilots In Canadian Air Crash Called Veterans". Toledo Blade. 30 March 1985. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d Owens, Greg (29 August 1985). "No change for ex-CO despite crash report". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
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