Douglas C-118 Liftmaster | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

In unknown circumstances, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located five miles from Orting, killing all four crew members who were conducting a flight out from McChord AFB.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster in Azerbaijan

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1958

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-118 Liftmaster

Operator:

Registration:

51-3822

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Nicosia – Tehran

MSN:

43569

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Nicosia to Tehran, carrying a load of highly sensitive equipment for the CIA. Maybe following a navigational error, the four engine aircraft penetrated the Soviet Airspace over Armenia and was later attacked by the pilots of two Soviet MiG-17. The pilot of the C-118 was able to attempt an emergency landing in a field located somewhere in Azerbaijan (the exact place remains unclear). While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, all nine crew members were evacuated.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Soviet fighters.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster in Norwalk: 42 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1958 at 1913 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-118 Liftmaster

Operator:

Registration:

53-3277

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Long Beach – McGuire

MSN:

44648

YOM:

1955

Flight number:

USAF30W/02

Location:

Norwalk

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7819

Captain / Total hours on type:

1448.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

701

Copilot / Total hours on type:

439

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft departed Long Beach Airport at 1908LT bound for McGuire AFB, New Jersey, with 35 passengers and a crew of six on board. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot was cleared to climb to the assigned altitude of 17,000 feet. About five minutes later, while climbing to an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane collided with a USN Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune registered 127723. Carrying eight crew members, the Neptune has taken off from Los Alamitos NAS and was completing a local training mission. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Norwalk. The Liftmaster crashed on several building and a fuel station, killing all 41 occupants and one woman on the ground. The Neptune crashed in a stone-pit located about 2.5 miles north of the C-118 crash site. Six crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured. The accident occurred by night but in good weather conditions with a visibility above 15 miles.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the collision occurred in an uncontrolled area. Both crews were considered as co-responsible of the accident as they failed to take the appropriate measures to avoid each other and to pay attention to potential traffic. The crew of the C-118 was blamed not giving the priority to the Neptune which was flying to his right.

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster at McGuire AFB: 46 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1956 at 1537 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-118 Liftmaster

Operator:

Registration:

53-3301

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

McGuire – Stephenville – Lakenheath

MSN:

44672

YOM:

1955

Flight number:

A441/13

Location:

McGuire AFB (Fort Dix)

New Jersey

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

4183

Captain / Total hours on type:

1137.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1454

Copilot / Total hours on type:

642

Circumstances:

The Liftmaster was engaged in a transatlantic flight from McGuire (Fort Dix) Airbase to Lakenheath, UK, with an intermediate stop at Stephenville. Less than two minutes after takeoff from McGuire AFB runway 24, while climbing, the four engine aircraft encountered poor weather conditions, stalled and crashed in a dense wooded area located 1,4 mile from the airfield. Eight crew members and 38 passengers, among them civilians, were killed while 20 other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

It was reported that weather conditions were poor at the time of the accident with thunderstorm activity around the McGuire Airbase, a horizontal visibility of 1,500 meters, clouds from 600 to 1,800 feet and wind gusting up to 30 knots with turbulences. The assumption that the aircraft encountered strong downdraft caused by a micro-burst was not ruled out.