# NTSB WPR25LA089: Lockheed C-130A, N466TM, Daggett, CA, February 1, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 1, 2025, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Daggett, CA - Coordinates: 35.100116, -116.90368 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1001&lon=-116.9037&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 6 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199680 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199680/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199680 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA089 ## Probable cause An inflight upset due to an improperly secured load that resulted in serious injuries. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Lockheed C-130A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=5262502), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Cabin crew; cases with it: [Lockheed C-130A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=5262502), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Oversight: oversight of personnel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032010): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · Operator; cases with it: [Lockheed C-130A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032010/cases.md?model=5262502), [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04032010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271) (defining event); cases with it: [Lockheed C-130A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271/sequence.md?model=5262502), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that while conducting a high-altitude airdrop test, the 25,000lb airdrop package prematurely released while the airplane was maneuvering. The airdrop package extraction parachute did not deploy, and the package exited the rear of the airplane slowly, resulting in an excessive pitch-up and right yaw of the airplane. After the airdrop package exited the cargo door, the airplane pitched down violently, resulting in serious injuries to two crew members located in the cargo compartment. The aircraft returned to the airport without further incident. A post accident inspection revealed no aircraft damage and that the cargo locks were set improperly during loading. The operator reported that the airplane had no pre accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N466TM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N466TM), registered now, S/N 57-466, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LOCKHEED C-130A - Registry model: [Lockheed C-130A](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-c-130a) (registry code 5262502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison T-56A-9](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-t-56a-9) (registry code 03026, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 57-466 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 18860.4 - Engines: ALLISON T-56A-9 3750 horsepower turbo prop; ALLISON T-56A-9 3750 horsepower turbo prop; ALLISON T-56A-9 3750 horsepower turbo prop; ALLISON T-56A-9 3750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Air drop, Part 91 - Operator: Tbm Inc, doing business as Tbm Inc - Registered owner: T B M Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 28, 2025, 6 hours before - Departed: KBLH, Blythe, CA - Destination: KBLH, Blythe, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 8, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,000 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 6,500 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,464 total, 32 in this make and model, 533 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Flight engineer; flight engineer; seat: center; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KDAG, 5 nm away - METAR: KDAG 011750Z AUTO 17003KT 10SM CLR 15/M01 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP197 T01501006 10150 20078 50010= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250201003789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250201003789A), Feb 1, 2025: Lockheed C-130A, Daggett, CA, No damage. 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… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199680. 14.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 14.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18576138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TBM%20NTSB%20fjw_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record director of operations (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18575757&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=DO%20MOR-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.