1985 CFB Edmonton mid-air collision

Collision of two aircraft in Alberta, Canada May 2025 Accident 1985 03 29 y Mid-air collision CFB Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 53 41 14.1 N 113 28 40.7 W 10 0 Canadian CC-130 Hercules Tanker (2783350262) (cropped).jpg A Canadian Armed Forces CC-130H Hercules in modern livery similar to the aircraft involved Lockheed CC-130H Hercules Canadian Armed Forces Trucker Lead 130330 6 6 6 0 Canadian CC-130 Hercules Tanker (2783350262) (cropped).jpg A Canadian Armed Forces CC-130H Hercules in modern livery similar to the aircraft involved Lockheed CC-130H Hercules Canadian Armed Forces Trucker 2 130331 4 4 4 0 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. It remains the deadliest aircraft accident in Alberta history and the deadliest Royal Canadian Air Force crash since the 1965 loss of a Canadair CL-28-2 Argus off Puerto Rico.Crash of a Canadair CL-28-2 Argus off Puerto Rico: 16 killed https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-canadair-cl-28-2-argus-puerto-rico-16-killed Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive 17 May 2025 Aircraft Both aircraft were from the No. 435 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force and were manufactured in 1974.Friday 29 March 1985 https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/327230 Aviation Safety Network 18 May 2025Friday 29 March 1985 https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/327229 Aviation Safety Network 18 May 2025 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.Lockheed Hercules https://caspir.warplane.com/aircraft/serial-search/aircraft-no/200000367 CASPIR 18 May 2025 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. 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 for Continental Airlines.Hayes Scott A son's search for history and truth https://www.stalbertgazette.com/local-news/a-sons-search-for-history-and-truth-2026594 18 May 2025 St. Albert Gazette 23 January 2020 Trucker 2 was being flown by Capt. Robert W. Drake.Captain Robert William Drake https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/80002056?Robert%20William%20Drake Canadian Virtual War Memorial 20 February 2019 17 May 2025 Accident The accident occurred at 7:15 PM following a ceremonial flypast of the mess hall to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the RCAF. The aircraft were part of three plane formation with Trucker Lead in the front.10 believed dead in Canadian crash https://books.google.com/books?id=XLlPAAAAIBAJ&dq=edmonton+namao+plane+crash&pg=PA13 18 May 2025 The Bryan Times 29 March 1985 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.Two huge transport jets collide https://books.google.com/books?id=fIVTAAAAIBAJ&dq=edmonton+namao+plane+crash&pg=PA5 18 May 2025 The Bulletin 31 March 1985 One of the engines from the planes fell and crashed into a garage where one person was present causing minimal damage. 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. 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. Miraculously neither of the fuel tanks ignited despite the intense heat. Victims The RCAF publicly released the names of the Canadian servicemen who died in the accident after contacting loved ones.Planes hit, crash https://books.google.com/books?id=8oNGAAAAIBAJ&dq=edmonton+namao+plane+crash&pg=PA10 18 May 2025 The Evening News 29 March 1985 Capt. Register's identity was confirmed by a public affairs officer for the Pentagon.Pilots In Canadian Air Crash Called Veterans https://books.google.com/books?id=HVBPAAAAIBAJ&dq=edmonton+namao+plane+crash&pg=PA21 18 May 2025 Toledo Blade 30 March 1985 Capt. Lonnie Register of El Paso, Texas Capt. Brian J. Tulloch of Winnipeg Capt. Kevin E. Kennedy of Douglastown, Quebec Cpl. Joseph M. Doucet of Girardville, Quebec Sgt. Robert H. Brown of Windsor, Nova Scotia Capt. Robert W. Drake of Edmonton Capt. David A. Whalen of Toronto Capt. John D. Thornton of Ottawa W.O. William I. Oness of Alsask, Saskatchewan Capt. David I. Mahaffey of Kingston, Ontario Aftermath It took one and a half hours to put the fire caused by the crash under control. 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. Both flight recorders were recovered from the crash and a five member inquiry was led as to the cause of the accident. 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." The total damage of the accident was estimated at $50 million (equivalent to close to $130 million adjusting for inflation). 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.Owens Greg No change for ex-CO despite crash report https://books.google.com/books?id=mCNlAAAAIBAJ&dq=edmonton+plane+crash&pg=PA20 17 May 2025 Edmonton Journal 29 August 1985 See also Green Ramp disaster - a deadly mid-air collision on a military base in the United States Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 9 - another Canadian mid-air collision involving an aircraft from the RCAF 2009 California mid-air collision - a mid-air collision also involving Lockheed Hercules' Rescue 807 Crashes - altogether the deadliest aircraft accidents in Alberta history References Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Canada Category:Mid-air collisions involving military aircraft Category:Mid-air collisions in North America Category:1985 in Alberta Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving military aircraft Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Lockheed C-130 Hercules Category:March 1985 in Canada Category:1980s in Edmonton