Narrative:

As #2 in a 2-SHIP formation of C130H's, we had just finished airdrops at fryar drop zone and were maneuvering for a right turn to initial for an overhead pattern at lawson aaf. Approximately 3 mi northwest of lawson's runway 15, we encountered a small, single-engine low-wing aircraft heading approximately east. We were at 2300 ft (stated overhead altitude for lawson) and the low-wing was probably around 2500 ft, apparently maneuvering for landing at columbus metropolitan. The low-wing passed between lead and us about 200 ft higher. No evasive action was required (although we descended) but we were instructed to contact columbus approach by lawson base operations. Contributing factors: TRSA (class C) airspace not shown on tactical low level charts. We were using military tpc charts, which do not show such airspace. This is unforgivable. Our planning was for lawson aaf and we had no way of knowing that maneuvering for initial would put us near/into class C airspace. Lawson aaf tower was closed. Only base operations was open and though helpful, he could not ensure clearance or provide TA's. We were on his frequency during the encounter. Towers need to be open during all operations. Lack of air carrier planning. The way our unit operates, crews show up to fly 2 1/2 hours prior to takeoff. Planning must be done in the 1 hour prior to brief. If someone hasn't done any work prior to show time, it is difficult to properly plan for a complex airdrop mission and cover all the contingencies.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C130 INFLT OF 2 ACFT ENCOUNTERS OTHER TFC AFTER ENTERING CSG CLASS C AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: AS #2 IN A 2-SHIP FORMATION OF C130H'S, WE HAD JUST FINISHED AIRDROPS AT FRYAR DROP ZONE AND WERE MANEUVERING FOR A R TURN TO INITIAL FOR AN OVERHEAD PATTERN AT LAWSON AAF. APPROX 3 MI NW OF LAWSON'S RWY 15, WE ENCOUNTERED A SMALL, SINGLE-ENG LOW-WING ACFT HEADING APPROX E. WE WERE AT 2300 FT (STATED OVERHEAD ALT FOR LAWSON) AND THE LOW-WING WAS PROBABLY AROUND 2500 FT, APPARENTLY MANEUVERING FOR LNDG AT COLUMBUS METRO. THE LOW-WING PASSED BTWN LEAD AND US ABOUT 200 FT HIGHER. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS REQUIRED (ALTHOUGH WE DSNDED) BUT WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT COLUMBUS APCH BY LAWSON BASE OPS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: TRSA (CLASS C) AIRSPACE NOT SHOWN ON TACTICAL LOW LEVEL CHARTS. WE WERE USING MIL TPC CHARTS, WHICH DO NOT SHOW SUCH AIRSPACE. THIS IS UNFORGIVABLE. OUR PLANNING WAS FOR LAWSON AAF AND WE HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT MANEUVERING FOR INITIAL WOULD PUT US NEAR/INTO CLASS C AIRSPACE. LAWSON AAF TWR WAS CLOSED. ONLY BASE OPS WAS OPEN AND THOUGH HELPFUL, HE COULD NOT ENSURE CLRNC OR PROVIDE TA'S. WE WERE ON HIS FREQ DURING THE ENCOUNTER. TWRS NEED TO BE OPEN DURING ALL OPS. LACK OF ACR PLANNING. THE WAY OUR UNIT OPERATES, CREWS SHOW UP TO FLY 2 1/2 HRS PRIOR TO TKOF. PLANNING MUST BE DONE IN THE 1 HR PRIOR TO BRIEF. IF SOMEONE HASN'T DONE ANY WORK PRIOR TO SHOW TIME, IT IS DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY PLAN FOR A COMPLEX AIRDROP MISSION AND COVER ALL THE CONTINGENCIES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.