Lockheed C-130A accident near Daggett, California, February 1, 2025
On February 1, 2025 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1957 Lockheed C-130A, registered N466TM, was involved in an accident during enroute near Daggett, California. It was an air-drop flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight upset due to an improperly secured load that resulted in serious injuries.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 2025 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Daggett, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lockheed C-130A, built 1957 · all C-130As on the register
- Registration
- N466TM · registry record · serial 57-466
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Air-drop flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Inflight upset during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Cabin crew
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of personnel › Operator
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 8, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,464 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 533 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 31, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight Engineer
- Certificate: flight engineer
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,860.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 2025; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 124,200 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Allison T-56A-9 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Allison T-56A-9 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 3: Allison T-56A-9 (turboprop); 6 hours total
- Engine 4: Allison T-56A-9 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tbm INC
The flight
- Departed from: KBLH Blythe CA at 3:05 pm
- Destination: KBLH Blythe CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am from KDAG, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDAG 011750Z AUTO 17003KT 10SM CLR 15/M01 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP197 T01501006 10150 20078 50010=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | 3 | ||
| Flight crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record Director of Operations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.