Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter

The four engine airplane departed Mexico City-Benito Juarez Airport at 1700LT on a cargo flight to Miami-Intl, Florida, carrying eight passengers, four crew members and a load consisting of 18 racing horses. After takeoff, during initial climb, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain sufficient altitude. The crew elected to add power but the aircraft failed to gain height. The captain attempted an emergency landing on a road when the aircraft struck power lines and crashed in the city, few km from the airport. The aircraft as well as several houses and buildings were destroyed. The captain was rescued while 11 other occupants as well as 54 people on the ground were killed. 50 other people were wounded, some seriously.

On final approach to Uli Airstrip, the four engine aircraft was too low, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed. They were completing a humanitarian mission on behalf of the International committee of the Red Cross.

For unknown reason, the airplane belly landed at Uli-Annabel Airport, slid for dozen yards and came to rest. Only the captain was slightly injured while all other occupants escaped unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was completing a humanitarian mission to Biafra.

For undetermined reason, the four engine aircraft made a wheels-up landing at Palmdale AFB, slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no injuries but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

The crew was performing a flight from Travis AFB to Tokyo with intermediate stops at Hickam (Hawaii) and Wake Island. On the leg from Hawaii to Wake Island, the airplane crashed into the ocean in unknown circumstances. SAR operations were conducted for several days but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found. The last position of the airplane was reported 375 miles southwest of Honolulu.

En route from Wake Island to Yokota AFB, Tokyo, while cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the crew informed ground about his position 320 km off the Japanese coast and that all was ok on board. Shortly later, the airplane disappeared and the crew was unable to send any distress call. SAR operations were conducted for eight days but no trace of the airplane nor the 67 occupants was ever found.

At liftoff, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames on the edge of the runway. Four crew members were killed while two others were injured.

The four engine aircraft left Frankfurt-Main Airport at 0936LT on October 14 bound for Lajes where it landed at 1603LT. After refueling, the airplane left Lajes at 1851LT bound for Westover AFB, Massachusetts. About an hour later, the crew informed ground about technical problems with radio compas and radio altimeters and decided to return to Lajes where it landed safely at 2019LT. According to duty time and rest time, the crew decided to pass the overnight in Lajes and took off on October 15 at 0843LT bound for the US. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.

Shortly after takeoff from Kelly AFB, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion less than a mile from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all nine crew members were killed.

On final approach to Wright-Patterson AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a field located 5 miles short of runway. Five crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured.