# Accident 20250201003789A: Lockheed C-130A, Daggett, CA, February 1, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 1, 2025, 15:40 local time
- Place: Daggett, CA
- Damage: No damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RQBG
- Location: 35.1001° N, 116.9037° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1001&lon=-116.9037&mi=10
- Aircraft: N466TM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N466TM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lockheed C-130A (registry code 5262502, https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-c-130a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison T-56A-9 (registry code 03026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t-56a-9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOCKHEED C-130A
- Reported engine: ALLISON T-56A-9
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250201003789A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON FEBRUARY 1, 2025,0930L, A LOCKHEED C-130A (CIVILIAN), ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^WAS CONDUCTING A HIGH-ALTITUDE PARACHUTE EXTRACTION TEST AS PART OF A MILITARY RDT&E MISSION. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS FLIGHT WAS TO EVALUATE THE BEHAVIOR AND EXTRACTION DYNAMICS OF A WEIGHTED PLATFORM UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, THE MISSION EXPERIENCED A CRITICAL DEVIATION FROM EXPECTED PROCEDURES, LEADING TO AN UNCOMMANDED LOAD SHIFT, IN-FLIGHT INSTABILITY, AND INJURY TO TWO CREW MEMBERS (NON-FLIGHT CREWS).

AS THE AIRCRAFT CIRCLING AT FL240 OVER THE TEST AREA NEAR DAGGETT, CA, THE LOADMASTERS PREPARED THE CARGO FOR PARACHUTE EXTRACTION. THE OPERATION PROCEEDED NORMALLY UNTIL THE RELEASE OF THE LEFT-HAND DUAL RAIL RESTRAINT LOCKS. AT THIS POINT, WITHOUT PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT, THE PLATFORM UNEXPECTEDLY BEGAN TO ROLL AFT UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT. THIS RESULTED IN AN UNPLANNED AND PROGRESSIVE AFT SHIFT IN THE AIRCRAFT’S CENTER OF GRAVITY (CG), PROMPTING A NOSE-UP PITCH.

MOMENTS LATER, THE PLATFORM EXITED THE AIRCRAFT VIA THE OPEN CARGO RAMP. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF WEIGHT AT THE REAR CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE AND PRONOUNCED SHIFT IN CG TO THE FORWARD AXIS. THE AIRCRAFT RESPONDED WITH A SHARP NOSE-DOWN PITCH. THIS SUDDEN DYNAMIC MOVEMENT CAUSED MULTIPLE UNSEATED CREW MEMBERS IN THE CARGO AREA TO LOSE FOOTING—SOME WERE BRIEFLY AIRBORNE WITHIN THE COMPARTMENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR25LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA089), Feb 1, 2025: Lockheed C-130A (N466TM), Daggett, CA, no damage. Probable cause: An inflight upset due to an improperly secured load that resulted in serious injuries.

## Other reports on N466TM (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20100518039919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100518039919I), May 18, 2010: Lockheed C-130A (N466TM), Johnstown, PA, No damage. At 1420 local time, N466TM was conducting high speed taxi testing of experimental camera equipment when it departed the end of runway 33 at approximately 5-10…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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