2012 Norwegian C-130 crash

A similar C-130J "Super Hercules" of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. (2010).
Accident summary
Date	15 March 2012
Summary	Controlled flight into terrain caused by pilot and ATC errors
Site	Mount Kebnekaise, Lapland, Sweden
Passengers	1
Crew	4
Fatalities	5
Injuries (non-fatal)	0
Survivors	0
Aircraft type	Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
Operator	Royal Norwegian Air Force
Registration	5630
Flight origin	Harstad, Norway
Destination	Kiruna, Sweden

A Royal Norwegian Air Force (Norwegian: Luftforsvaret) Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft crashed into the western wall of Mount Kebnekaise on 15 March 2012. The aircraft disappeared from radar over the Kebnekaise mountain range near Kiruna in Sweden. All five on board were killed.

The aircraft involved was a Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules as 5630 (USAF serial no: 10-5630, c/n: 382-5630), a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was the last of four such planes acquired by the Norwegian military between 2008 and 2010 and was named "Siv".

The commander, 42 year old Ståle Garberg, had 6229 flight hours, while the first officer, 46 year old Truls Audun Ørpen, had 3286 flight hours. Both were considered to be experienced airmen.

The plane left Evenes Airport at 13:40 and was scheduled to arrive at Kiruna Airport at 14:30. The aircraft was participating in the "Cold Response" military exercise, which also involved forces from Germany, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States. The aircraft appeared to have flown straight onto the edge of the western wall of Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest mountain. According to a police spokesperson, the aircraft probably exploded after crashing, setting off an avalanche. Human remains were found in the avalanche area.

The radar plots show the aircraft maintained a straight course over the last 50 km of the flight until impact, in line with the planned route. The plots did not indicate tactical low-level flying, although that was an optional plan for part of the route if weather conditions allowed. Just prior to the crash, Swedish air traffic controllers at Kiruna cleared the Hercules to descend to 7,000 feet (2,134 meters). This altitude is just 20 meters above the height of the top of the Kebnekaise mountain. The altitudes for the continuous radar plots remained in the possession of the accident investigation board and were not released.