Two military aircraft have been involved in a midair collision approximately 25 miles east of San Clemente Island Calif.

Search at Sea for Downed Military Aircraft; No survivors found

Los Angeles. The FAA believes a Coast Guard C-130 Coast Guard C130 transport plane have been involved in a Thursday evening midair collision with a Marine Corps AH-1 Cobra helicopter at 7:10 p.m., approximately 25 miles east of San Clemente Island.

"The Coast Guard cannot account for a C130 and the Marine Corps cannot account for a Cobra.

There were seven people on board the C130 that is missing and two on the helicopter that is missing.

A pilot reported seeing a fireball in the vicinity of the suspected crash site.

The pilots were not talking to FAA air traffic controllers at the time of the collision. A search and rescue mission is underway" according to a statement issued by the FAA Thursday night.

Coast Guard and Navy vessels are searching for the helicopter.

At 10:40 p.m. a Coast Guard spokesman said its base in Los Angeles was coordinating the search.

No Survivors have be found

>>>http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/Search-at-Sea-for-Downed-Military-Aircraft-67441697.html

This message has been edited. Last edited by: IHAWKER,

UPDATE:

October 29, 2009 | 10:48 pm
The Coast Guard confirmed to reporters in San Diego tonight that a crash occurred between two aircraft -- possibly a Coast Guard C-130 transport airplane and a Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopter -- and said that rescue crews have spotted debris in the water.

Rescue units from the Coast Guard and Navy have responded to the crash site to search for survivors. The airplane was reported to contain seven crew members, while the helicopter contained two. No survivors have yet been spotted. Three Coast Guard cutters and four Navy ships, along with several helicopters, are involved in the search.

A Coast Guard spokesman said that search conditions were good with calm waters and light winds. The spokesman described the aircraft as a Coast Guard airplane and a Department of Defense aircraft. Federal Aviation Administration officials have identified the aircraft as a C-130 and a Cobra helicopter.

The collision is thought to have occurred 15 to 25 miles off San Clemente Island, the FAA said.
Ian Gregor, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman, said that a pilot reported seeing a fireball about 7:10 p.m. near the suspected crash site. Earlier reports stated that a single Navy helicopter may have crashed.

12:33 AM

Marine Corps spokesman Cpl Michael Stevens confirmed an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter had gone down, but he had no further information. He said it belonged to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at Camp Pendleton.

The Coast Guard plane was believed to be a C-130 with seven people on board, Gregor said. Two people were believed to be aboard the helicopter, he said.

The Coast Guard responded by sending three Coast Guard cutters, and diverting an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to the area to search for survivors. The Navy sent four vessels and multiple helicopters to aid in the search.

San Clemente Island is the southernmost of the eight Channel Islands located 68 nautical miles west of San Diego. The Navy has owned and trained at San Clemente Island since 1934, according to the island's Web site. Naval Air Station, North Island is responsible for the island's administration.

>>>http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=7090678

We've also got a Navy training aircraft missing over the Gulf with two on board.

http://forums.military.com/eve...8221/m/4310096632001

quote:

Originally posted by I_M_Qwerty:
We've also got a Navy training aircraft missing over the Gulf with two on board.

http://forums.military.com/eve...8221/m/4310096632001

Man, rough night for flying last night. I guess we all know it's a dangerous job but still, this is just plain sad.

I guess we can only hope for the best. Unfortunately I have been out there on a few SAR cases like these. Very, very difficult.

Don

quote:

Originally posted by 21yrsUSCGUSCS:

quote:

Originally posted by I_M_Qwerty:
We've also got a Navy training aircraft missing over the Gulf with two on board.

http://forums.military.com/eve...8221/m/4310096632001

Man, rough night for flying last night. I guess we all know it's a dangerous job but still, this is just plain sad.

I guess we can only hope for the best. Unfortunately I have been out there on a few SAR cases like these. Very, very difficult.

Don

Yep. The two Navy pilots have been missing since Wednesday. Latest report below:

UPDATE:

quote:

Stormy weather stalls search for Navy plane, 2 pilots, missing since Wednesday off Texas coast

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Stormy weather has forced the Coast Guard to suspend its search for two missing Navy pilots and their plane along the central Texas coast.

Petty Officer 1st Class Nayo Gallegos said crews stopped their search around 8 p.m. Thursday because of limited visibility. The search is expected to resume Friday morning.

http://blog.taragana.com/n/stormy-weather-stalls-search-for-navy-plane-2-pilots-missing-since-wednesday-off-texas-coast-212082/

It’s now daylight here in So Cal. and the search has begun again. Debris has been spotted which appears to be from the C-130 but no sign of life. The crash site is visible from shore.

Video from ABC7 LA

>>>http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=7091030

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KABC) -- A major search is underway on Friday for possible survivors after two aircrafts, a Coast Guard C-130 and a U.S. Marine helicopter, collide off the coast of San Diego.
A total of nine crew members on the two aircrafts are missing.
Officials said in a news conference that they continue to find debris, but they have not located any survivors.
Search teams are scouring a 644 square mile area.
"There were two large explosions, one after the other. It looked like two tanks exploded out there. No sound, just a very large ball of fire came up. Then they dived down again, glowing after that into the horizon," said Ron Newcomb, a witness.
Officials said a person could survive more than 20 hours in the waters. The water conditions are good, clear and calm, with temperatures in the mid 60s.
"Our people are highly trained in survival techniques. They are very highly fit, physically fit. They are able to survive things that you would otherwise be surprised at," said Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo from the U.S. Guard.
"We are continuing to search with the hope of finding survivors."

>>>http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=7091030

Survivors unlikey ib aircraft collision off San Clemente Island, Pentagon says.

>>>http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/survivors-unlikely-in-aircraft-collision-off-san-clemente-island-pentagon-says.html

This message has been edited. Last edited by: IHAWKER,

SAN DIEGO - The Coast Guard identified nine people feared dead at sea following an air collision between a Coast Guard aircraft and a Marine Corps helicopter.

All seven crew members of a Coast Guard C-130 airplane are stationed at the Coast Guard Air Station in Sacramento, Calif. The aircraft commander, 35-year-old Lt. Cmdr. Che Barnes, is from Capay, Calif. His co-pilot, 28-year-old Lt. Adam Bryant, is from Crewe, Va.

The missing crew members from the two-person Marine helicopter are 35-year-old Maj. Samuel Leigh of Kennebec, Maine, and 26-year-old 1st Lt. Thomas Claiborne, of Douglas, Colo.

>>>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33545270/ns/us_news-military/

Pasting a post from the thread in the USCG section.

Don



MNCouling - Posted Sat 31 October 2009 08:18 AM

This is from piersystem, an official news release of the names. God comfort the families and loved ones. Still hoping for the best, God be with them.

The missing crew members from the Coast Guard C-130 are:

Lt. Cmdr. Che J. Barnes, age 35, Capay, Calif., Aircraft Commander.

Lt. Adam W. Bryant, age 28, Crewe, Va., Co-Pilot.

Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman, age 43, Stockton, Calif., Flight Engineer.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis, age 35, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Navigator.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, age 29, Decaturville, Tenn., Radio Operator.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletzsky, age 26, Norristown, Pa., Air Crew.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II, age 22, Elm Mott, Texas, Drop Master.
Posts: 25 | Registered: Fri 15 May 2009

My heart and my prayers are with all of them and their families.

Frisco

Search ends for missing after midair collision

Sunday Nov 1, 2009

(CNN) -- Authorities have decided to call off a search-and-rescue mission for nine people who may have plunged into the Pacific Ocean off southern California after a Coast Guard C-130 plane and a Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopter collided Thursday night.

"I've reached the conclusion that hope is no longer viable," Coast Guard spokesman Jose Castillo told reporters Sunday.

For more >>>http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/01/california.midair.searchends/index.html

We get pretty timely notifications of military aircraft mishaps where I work. We got word(unclassified) Friday that there were other helicopters in that area off San Clemente at the time of the collision, and that they did an immediate but unsuccessful search for survivors. I'll bet the Navy was doing bottom searches of the area within 24 hours. The Coast Guard could be involved as well, although the Navy is better equipped and trained for it. I was involved in a few similar missions during my career as a Navy Diver. Much of the area around San Clemente Island is so deep that it is beyond normal mixed gas diving depth limits, so manned searches and recovery may be limited to saturation diving. That's a much more complex operation so it would take some time. The greater depth also widens the search area considerably.

Sad news. R.I.P. May the familys' faith sustain them.

My prayers now go to the families. The search has now gone into the recovery phase.

From the USCG Commandant:

"To the Men and Women of the United States Coast Guard:

We are still in the midst of a massive search effort to locate the seven missing
Guardians from CG-1705 and the two Marines from the AH-1 Cobra helicopter.
Coast Guard and Navy assets, along with a Customs and Border Protection
helicopter, are searching a 644 nautical mile area and have recovered debris
from both aircraft but we have not located any survivors at this time. I remain
hopeful and we will continue to search until all of our options are exhausted.

After completing the next of kin notifications and consulting closely with our
Marine Corps and Navy partners, we are releasing the names of the AIRSTA
Sacramento based crew of the CG-1705:

Lieutenant Commander Che J. Barnes; age 35
Lieutenant Adam W. Bryant; age 28
Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman; age 43
Petty Officer Second Class Carl P. Grigonis; age 35
Petty Officer Second Class Monica L. Beacham; age 29
Petty Officer Second Class Jason S. Moletzsky; age 26
Petty Officer Third Class Danny R. Kreder II; age 22.

The names of the missing Marines are Major Samuel Leigh, age 35, and First
Lieutenant Thomas Claiborne, age 26.

I am extremely proud of all the people involved in the search efforts - their
dedication to finding their fellow shipmates is inspiring. We will continue to
support AIRSTA Sacramento, the families of the missing crewmembers, and all the
participating units with everything they need to continue the search.

This event, like the CG-6505 helicopter accident last year, highlights the risks
we accept every day to ensure the Nation's safety and security. As Guardians,
we acknowledge the risk but that doesn't ease the emotional burden we feel after
a tragedy. I know many people have been working extremely hard over the last
several days so please watch each other's back.

I will provide further updates as they become available. Keep these missing
Guardians and Marines, along with their families, in your thoughts during this
difficult time.

Admiral Thad Allen
Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard"

Very tragic, My condolences to the families of these fine young men and women.

Inquiry seeks cause of mid-air collision

LOS ANGELES — With the possibility of finding survivors all but gone and the ocean search shifted from a rescue effort to a recovery mission, focus fell Monday on what caused a Marine Corps helicopter and a Coast Guard plane to collide over the Pacific.

The two aircraft collided Thursday evening as the Coast Guard was searching for a missing boater. The Marine helicopter was flying in formation with another Cobra helicopter and two transports on a nighttime training exercise.

The crash investigation was being conducted jointly by the Coast Guard and the Marine Corps with support from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, Petty Officer Henry Dunphy said Sunday.

The accident happened in airspace uncontrolled by the FAA and inside a so-called military warning area, which is at times open to civilian aircraft and at times closed for military use, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. He did not know the status of the airspace at the time of the crash.

Minutes before the collision, the FAA told the C-130 pilot to begin communicating with military controllers at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego Bay, but it was not known if the pilot did so, Gregor said.

A top Coast Guard official said Saturday he thought the C-130 pilot had spoken with the military controllers before the accident.

Accident investigators would review communications between the pilots and between the pilots and the FAA and military controllers, said Capt. Tom Farris, commander of the Coast Guard’s 11th District.

Full article at...

The Army Times

>>>http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/ap_midair_collision_110209/

Must have been a catastrophic hit to the C-130 for a Cobra to take it down.

My condolences to the relatives...