Washington

The aircraft was on a routine flight from McChord AFB to California. At liftoff, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. Eight occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Both pilots and two passengers were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Robert E. Walker, pilot, †
Cpt Peter Michael Cunningham, copilot, †
T/Sgt Donald G. Love, flight engineer. †
Passengers:
1st Lt Joseph R. Baxter, †
M/Sgt William B. Johnston,
Lt Col Jack S. McKinley,
Sgt William D. Wallace,
T/Sgt Billy D. Byrd,
Sgt Charles L. Andrews,
PO2C Charles B. Nichols,
PO3C Darrell E. Calentine,
M/Sgt Granville Hicks.

Upon landing on a swift river near Wenatchee, the float equipped aircraft crashed and partially sank. The pilot was rescued while the passenger drowned.

Shortly after liftoff, the flight instructor reduced power on engine n°4 to check the trainee’s emergency procedures, and the aircraft began to yaw to the right. This yaw-continued to increase until, at a point approximately 6,500 feet down the runway, the right wing went down and the No. 4 engine pod made contact with the runway. In a severe sideslip to the right, the aircraft slid off the runway and thence in a northerly direction through 2,600 feet of rough terrain, breaking up and bursting into flames before it came to rest on an easterly heading. Four crew members escaped from the burning aircraft through a break in the fuselage, but of these four, only two survived. The body of one trainee was later found in the burned cockpit area. Ground impact and fire after impact almost completely destroyed the airplane.

Shortly after takeoff from Pasco-Tri-Cities Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane adopted a high angle of attack and nose high attitude. It stalled then crashed in a huge explosion near the airport, killing both pilots.

Just after liftoff from Port Angeles-Callam County Airport, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height then stalled and crashed in flames. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 10 occupants were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Whidbey Island NAS. Crew fate remains unknown.

On final approach to Seattle-Boeing Field, both engine failed. The airplane lost height, struck electrical wires and crashed in flames in a parking lot. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed as well as seven cars.

While descending to Fairchild AFB on a flight from Hickam Field, Hawaii, the airplane was too low and the struck the slope of Mt Shadow (4,337 feet high) located 40 miles northwest of Fairchild AFB. The airplane struck trees and disintegrated on impact, killing all nine crew members.

On 7 September, 1966, 65-0281 was the first C-141 destroyed. It blew up while simultaneous hazardous maintenance procedures were being performed. Three maintenance members were killed in an explosion of the Right Extended Range tank. The Wing at McChord had recently converted to the StarLifter. The first aircraft had arrived on 9 August 1966. This aircraft, 65-0281, was the third C-141 to be stationed at McChord, and had arrived on base just a week before, on 29 August, 1966. The maintenance teams had minimal practical experience with the new airplane. It was having multiple maintenance difficulties. The Right Extended Range Tank feel gage was erratic, and the AC "Power On" Light was inop. Two electricians were in the cockpit working on the "Power On" Light. A Maintenance Team Chief was also in the cockpit with three trainees. In addition, he was supervising a maintenance team on another aircraft. The Assistant Team Chief had started de-fueling the Right Extended Range Tank to prepare it for troubleshooting. The other fuel tanks were full. Two additional technicians arrived to work on the fuel gage before the de-fueling was complete. One of the electrical technicians connected testing equipment to the fuel tank but failed to ground it. The other technician plugged an extension cord into the external 115V AC receptacle of the APU. The live extension cord apparently came in contact with the case of the test equipment. Electricity flowed through the case, up the cables into the tank. Due to a short in the coaxial shielding a spark was created within the nearly empty tank. The right wing exploded. The Assistant Team Chief standing under the wing, and the technician on the wing were killed almost immediately. One of the technicians in the cockpit was badly burned while exiting the right troop door into a burning pool of JP-4. He died a few days later. The others on the aircraft received only minor injuries.
Source:
http://www.c141heaven.info/dotcom/65/pic_65_0281.php

While cruising in poor weather conditions, control was lost and the airplane went into an uncontrolled descent before crashing in a field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.