Search off Japanese coast underway Marine C-130/F-18

Search and rescue operations were underway off the Japanese coast early Thursday local time after a Marine Corps C-130 and F/A-18 fighter jet crashed, and so far one Marine has been rescued, military officials said in a news release.

The rescued Marine is being evaluated by medical personnel at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, while the search continues for the remaining six Marines involved in the crash.

The mishap occurred at about 2 a.m. local time Thursday, after the aircraft had taken off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to conduct regularly scheduled training.

Japanese search and rescue aircraft were aiding in the recovery, according to a Marine Corps statement.

“The circumstances of the mishap are currently under investigation,” the release states. “There is no additional information available at this time.”

While the exact aircraft involved were not immediately released, Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 152 flies the KC-130J out of Iwakuni and several fighter squadrons are based there as well, according to the command’s website.

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/y ... jet-crash/

USNI reporting its a F-18D from 242 sqn and a KC-130J from 152 sqn.

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/05/39344

The 130J loss will be keenly felt. There is already a 25 KC-130 shortfall that is partially filled by the use of the 130T in the reserve sqn. Prior to this the 130 has a stellar safety record with only 3 class A mishaps from as far back as 1980. The last being the 130T accident in July 2017 and the other 2 occurring in 2002.

Thursday, 6 December 2018:
F/A-18D.
VMFA-242, MAG-12, USMC, based at MCAS Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

KC-130J.
VMGR-152, MAG-12, USMC, based at MCAS Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

1:40, during training, collided, and crashed into sea, 100 km south-southeast from Muroto Cape, Kouchi Prefecture.

F/A-18: two pilots.
KC-130: five crew.

5:40, one F/A-18 pilot rescued by JMSDF SH-60.

10:45, one pilot or crew found by JCG patrol ship.
12:15, rescued by JMSDF training ship.

F/A-18 was one of flight of at least two.
Wingman circled crash site.

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/videonews ... 14-ann-int
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/videonews ... 7-fnn-soci
https://news.usni.org/2018/12/05/39344

(Can't seem to delete my previous post.)

Thursday, 6 December 2018:
F/A-18D.
VMFA(AW)-242 "Bats", MAG-12, 1st MAW, USMC, based at MCAS Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

KC-130J.
VMGR-152 "Sumos", MAG-12, 1st MAW, USMC, based at MCAS Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

1:40, during training, collided, and crashed into sea, 100 km south-southeast from Muroto Cape, Kouchi Prefecture.

F/A-18: two crew ejected, and rescued.

Pilot killed.
Captain Jahmar F. Resilard (28).

Co-pilot survived.

KC-130: five crew missing as at 2018/12/08.

5:40, F/A-18 co-pilot rescued by JMSDF SH-60J, and was conscious.

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=2018 ... shimav-l36

SH-60J of 24th Koukuutai, JMSDF, based at Komatsushima AB, Tokushima Prefecture.

SH-60J delivered F/A-18 co-pilot to Komatsushima AB, and another SH-60J of 24th Koukuutai delivered F/A-18 co-pilot to MCAS Iwakuni.

10:45, F/A-18 pilot found by JCG patrol ship.
He was strapped to his seat.

12:15, rescued by JMSDF training ship, DD-131 JDS Setoyuki.

SH-60J of 24th Koukuutai, JMSDF, delivered him from JDS Setoyuki to Komatsushima AB, and to Tokushima Red Cross Hospital, Komatsushima City, Tokushima Prefecture.

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=2018 ... shimav-l36

23:00, F/A-18 pilot confirmed as killed, at Tokushima Red Cross Hospital.

SAR action included patrol ship PS-15 Bizan of Tokushima Coast Guard Office, JCG.

F/A-18 was one of flight of at least two.
Wingman circled crash site.

https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/05kanku/tokushima/

Tokushima Coast Guard Office, JCG.

http://www.tokushima-med.jrc.or.jp/en/

Tokushima Red Cross Hospital.

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/videonews ... 14-ann-int
https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/videonews ... 7-fnn-soci
https://news.usni.org/2018/12/05/39344
https://news.usni.org/2018/12/07/marine ... ll-missing

Tragic.

...

Thank you for the detailed information, it's highly appreciated.


As for the event, tragic indeed

] Thank you for the detailed information

No problemo, dude.

https://news.usni.org/2018/12/07/marine ... ll-missing

Marines Identify Hornet Pilot Who Died After Crash with KC-130J off Japan; 5 Marines Still Missing

December 7, 2018 9:48 AM • Updated: December 7, 2018 10:13 AM

The search has been ended and the missing declared deceased. Sad to read this. Condolences to the families and friends.

Posted vis marines.mil
https://twitter.com/IIIMEF/status/1072350185647415296

https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/fa ... t-1.560252
https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/fi ... s-1.560128

KC-130 crew:

Pilot: Major [posthumous Lieutenant Colonel] Kevin Herrmann (38).
Executive Officer.
Wife, three daughters (12, 10, 7).

Major James Brophy (36).
Wife, son, daughter.

Staff Sergeant Maximo Alexander Flores [Junior] (27).
Wife.

Corporal Daniel Baker (21).
Crewmaster.

Corporal William Carter Ross (21).
Aerial refuelling and maintenance.
Twin sisters (16, 16).

Flight data recorders likely found from 2 Marine Corps aircraft that crashed off Japan coast



Three distinct signals thought to be from the flight data recorders from a Marine Corps KC-130J and F/A-18D that crashed off the coast of Japan last month have been detected, the Marine Corps confirmed Sunday.

Five crew from a KC-130J assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, or “Sumos” squadron, and the pilot of the two-person F/A-18D Hornet assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, or “Bats,” were killed Dec. 6 in an accident over the Philippine Sea that has been described by Japanese defense officials as a midair collision.

The investigation into what caused the crash is expected to take months, the Marine Corps previously said.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your ... -detected/

I've not seen the accident report just this summary - perhaps some SPATIONAL DISORIENTATION (NIGHT) is a factor also?

Marines: Lack of Training, Command Problems Contributed to Fatal 2018 Crash off Japan
23 Sep 2019 Megan Eckstein

"The Marine Corps found that pilot error, inadequate oversight of training and operations and an unprofessional command climate contributed to the Dec. 6 crash of an F/A-18D Hornet and a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft that killed six Marines and injured one.

The commandant of the Marine Corps may appoint a Consolidated Disposition Authority (CDA) to continue investigating the findings of the Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) investigation, which was recently concluded and just announced today. Four officers from the Hornet squadron, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, have already been relieved of duty throughout the course of the investigation.

“At approximately 1:30 a.m. on December 6, 2018, while flying at an altitude of 15,000 feet, two F/A-18Ds assigned to VMFA(AW)-242 joined a KC-130J assigned to [Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152] for air-to-air refueling. The first F/A-18D (F/A-18 Flight Lead) completed refueling and moved to a position on the right side of the KC-130J (Right Echelon). After the second F/A-18D completed refueling, its pilot requested and was approved to move to the left side of the KC-130J (Left Echelon), a non-standard maneuver for air-to-air refueling departure procedures. The pilot of the second F/A-18D was not experienced in conducting nighttime air-to-air refueling operations. The investigation indicates the mishap pilot lost situational awareness, unintentionally crossed over the top of the KC-130J from left to right, and collided with the rear of the tanker,” reads a summary of the investigation released today.

“The investigation was thorough, and included data recovered from the downed aircraft. Evidence shows both aircraft had been properly maintained and were fully functional before the collision. There is no evidence to suggest that either aircraft experienced any malfunctions prior to the collision,” the summary reads, before pointing to “a series of contributing factors were identified including, but not limited to: inadequate oversight of training and operations by the VMFA(AW)-242 leadership, an unprofessional command climate within VMFA(AW)-242, and the pilot of the mishap F/A-18’s lack of proficiency with the mission of night air-to-air refueling.”

During the course of the investigation, four squadron officers were fired: the commanding officer, Lt. Col. James Compton, in April; the executive officer, the operations officer and the aviation safety officer, according to the summary.

“The many findings of the investigation reconfirm our need to constantly evaluate risks, identify unsafe conditions, and ensure internal controls are being followed,” reads the summary....

...The Hornet’s weapons system officer survived the crash and was not named publicly by the Marine Corps....

...The Marine Corps conducted a salvage effort from late May to early June. The effort succeeded in retrieving the KC-130J’s cockpit voice recorder and digital flight recorder, which were sent to Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland for analysis to assist in the investigation. The salvage effort also succeeded in retrieving remains of three Marines – Herrmann, Brophy and Flores – which were released to the Marines’ families."

Source: https://news.usni.org/2019/09/23/marine ... -off-japan

HTML version & PDF version of report (redacted) here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents ... TOTAL.html

Marine Investigation into Fatal Fighter, Tanker Crash off Japan USNInews 26 Sep 2019
https://news.usni.org/2019/09/26/marine ... -off-japan

PDF (1,606 pages 57Mb): https://assets.documentcloud.org/docume ... -TOTAL.pdf

Marine pilot survived in sea for nearly 10 hours after deadly midair collision, smartwatch shows
15 Nov 2019 SETH ROBSON [BEST READ IT ALL at SOURCE]

"YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Smartwatch data suggests a Marine Corps pilot who ejected from his F/A-18 Hornet after colliding with a KC-130J tanker last year off the coast of Japan was alive on the surface of the ocean for nearly 10 hours before he drowned.

The heartrate data is included in a command investigation report on the incident, which claimed the life of Capt. Jahmar Resilard, 28, along with five Marines in the tanker. The group flew out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni near Hiroshima.

Resilard — referred to as “MP2” by investigators — was wearing a Garmin Fenix 3 smartwatch when he ejected from the fighter jet at 1:44 a.m. on Dec. 6, according to the command investigation report released Sept. 26.

“The data from the watch indicated that MP2’s heart was beating at an average of 86 beats per minute until approximately 1130,” the report states.

“MP2’s Garmin smart watch indicates that MP2 was alive on the surface of the ocean from approximately 0145 until approximately 1130 (nine hours and 45 minutes) in 68 degree Fahrenheit water.”

Resilard’s body was brought on board a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship, the JS Setoyuki, at 12:22 p.m., the report states.

An autopsy report showed the downed aviator had cuts and bruises, a head injury and appeared to have drowned.

Investigators noted that neither Resilard nor his weapons officer, who also ejected but was rescued from an inflatable raft, were wearing anti-exposure suits that can prolong survival in cold water....

...The Marine Corps doesn’t have search-and-rescue capability at MCAS Iwakuni, investigators noted.

In 2000, the commander of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing determined that Japanese search-and-rescue assets provided adequate coverage for the Iwakuni-based Marine Aircraft Group 12 and removed the Marines’ in-house capabilities, according to the report.

Japanese forces can launch search-and-rescue assets within 15 minutes of notification, if they are already out conducting operations, the report states. Otherwise, the response time can be more than two hours.

Four officers from Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 – its commander, executive officer, operations officer and aviation safety officer — were fired as a result of the investigation. It uncovered a number of problems in the unit such as wrongful use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs by officers, including two involved in the fatal training mission...."

Photo: "Capt. Jahmar Resilard was wearing a Garmin Fenix 3 smartwatch when he ejected from an F/A Hornet at 1:44 a.m., Dec. 6, 2018, after a midair collision with a KC-130J refueler, according to the command investigation report. Data from the watch indicated that his heart was beating at an average of 86 beats per minute until approximately 11:30 a.m. U.S. MARINE CORPS" https://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/1.6 ... /image.jpg

Source: https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/ma ... s-1.607406

https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/iwakuni/about/unit/71fs.html

71st Koukuutai, 31st Koukuugun, JMSDF, based at JMSDF Iwakuni, already flies amphibious US-2, so IMO, USMC doesn't need to duplicate SAR assets at MCAS Iwakuni.

I have not read the humungous accident report to find out time delay for finding the mishap pilot (dead). Anyone know?