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Crash of a Lockheed C-141B Starlifter in Atlantic Ocean: 9 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 13, 1997 at 1710 LT
Operator:
Registration:
65-9405
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Windhoek - Georgetown - McGuire AFB
MSN:
6142
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
REACH4201
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
36430
Circumstances:
Some 65 nautical miles west off the Namibian coast, a US Air Force Lockheed C-141B Starlifter collided with a German Air Force Tupolev 154M in mid-air. Both aircraft crashed, killing all 33 occupants. The Tupolev 154M (11+02), call sign GAF074, operated on a flight from Cologne/Bonn Airport in Germany to Kaapstad, South Africa. En route refueling stops were planned at Niamey, Niger and Windhoek, Namibia. On board were ten crew members and 14 passengers. The C-141B, (65-9405), call sign REACH 4201, had delivered UN humanitarian supplies to Windhoek and was returning to the U.S. via Georgetown on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. On board were nine crew members. GAF074 departed Niamey, Niger at 10:35 UTC. REACH 4201 took off from Windhoek at 14:11 UTC and climbed to its filed for and assigned cruise level of 35,000 feet (FL350). At the same time, GAF074 was not at its filed for cruise level of FL390 but was still at its initially assigned cruise level FL350. Windhoek ATC was in sole and continuous radio contact with REACH 4201, with no knowledge of GAF 074's movement. Luanda ATC was in radio contact with GAF074, but they were not in radio contact with REACH 4201. Luanda ATC did receive flight plans for both aircraft but a departure message for only REACH 4201. At 15:10 UTC both aircraft collided at FL350 and crashed into the sea.
Probable cause:
The primary cause of this accident, in my opinion, was GAF 074 flying a cruise level (FL350) which was not the level they had filed for (FL390). Neither FL350 nor FL390 were the correct cruise levels for that aircraft's magnetic heading according to International Civil Aviation Organization regulations. The appropriate cruise level would have been FL290, FL330, FL370, FL410, etc. A substantially contributing factor was ATC agency Luanda's poor management of air traffic through its airspace. While ATC communications could be improved, ATC agency û Luanda did have all the pertinent information it needed to provide critical advisories to both aircraft. If ATC agency Luanda was unable to contact GAF 074, it should have used other communication means (HF radio, telefax or telephone) to contact REACH 4201 through ATC agency Windhoek, as outlined in governing documents. Another substantially contributing factor was the complicated and sporadic operation of the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN). Routing of messages to affected air traffic control agencies is not direct and is convoluted, creating unnecessary delays and unfortunate misroutings. Specifically, ATC agency Windhoek did not receive a flight plan or a departure message on GAF 074, which could have been used by the controllers to identify the conflict so they could have advised REACH 4201. In my opinion, the absence of TCAS was not a cause or substantially contributing factor, but the presence of a fully operational TCAS could have prevented the accident." (William H.C. Schell, jr., Colonel, USAF President, Accident Investigation Board).
Ground fire of a Lockheed C-141A-LM Starlifter at Pope AFB: 23 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 23, 1994 at 1405 LT
Operator:
Registration:
66-0173
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6199
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Aircraft flight hours:
36132
Circumstances:
Parked at Pope AFB, the Starlifter was ready to embark its passengers. About 500 paratroopers were around the aircraft. On final approach to runway 23, at an altitude of 300 feet, an USAF Lockheed C-130E Hercules registered 68-10492 collided with a USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon (88-0171) that was approaching the same runway to land. The crew of the C-130 was able to land safely while both pilots on board the F-16 ejected before the fighter crashed on the parked C-141. Several explosion occurred and 23 soldiers who were already on board were killed while 80 others were injured, some seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of multiple causes such as ATC errors and pilots errors. USAF investigations placed most of the blame for the accident on the military and civilian air traffic controllers working at Pope AFB as well as the F-16 crew.
Crash of a Lockheed C-141B-LM Starlifter near Harlem: 7 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 30, 1992 at 2120 LT
Operator:
Registration:
65-0255
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
McChord - McChord
MSN:
300-6106
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
37744
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed McChord AFB on an air refuelling mission over Montana. While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet by night, the aircraft collided under unknown circumstances with a second USAF Lockheed C-141B-LM Starlifter registered 66-0142, carrying six crew members and taking part to the same mission. Both aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, disintegrated in the air and crashed about 14 km north of Harlem. All 13 occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Crash of a Lockheed C-141B-LM Starlifter near Harlem: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 30, 1992 at 2120 LT
Operator:
Registration:
66-0142
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
McChord - McChord
MSN:
300-6168
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
31857
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed McChord AFB on an air refuelling mission over Montana. While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet by night, the aircraft collided under unknown circumstances with a second USAF Lockheed C-141B-LM Starlifter registered 65-0255, carrying seven crew members and taking part to the same mission. Both aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, disintegrated in the air and crashed about 14 km north of Harlem. All 13 occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Crash of a Lockheed C-141B Starlifter at Hurlburt Field AFB: 8 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 20, 1989 at 2000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
66-0150
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Norton - Peterson Field - Hurlburt Field
MSN:
6176
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
29148
Circumstances:
The C-141B departed Norton AFB for a flight to Hurlburt Field with an intermediate stop at Peterson Field near Colorado Springs. The crew had to return back to Norton due to a leaking comfort pallet. At the end of the second leg, the crew were confronted with thunderstorms covering the approach path for the ILS approach to runway 36 at Hurlburt Field, the primary instrument runway. The crew requested the TACAN approach to runway 18, which was an approach over swampy terrain. The aircraft entered a high rate of descent, causing the GPWS to sound. The copilot reset two GPWS warnings and the descent was continued below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) of 345 feet agl. The airplane finally impacted terrain in a wings level, nose low attitude. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
Crash of a Lockheed C-141B Starlifter at Travis AFB
Date & Time:
Oct 15, 1986
Operator:
Registration:
65-0246
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
300-6097
YOM:
1965
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
28675
Circumstances:
On approach to Travis AFB, the crew was advised of a bomb threat at the passenger terminal. In night-time conditions, he had to park the aircraft which was normally reserved for tow-in parking. The captain complained about this to the marshaller, but he was told to taxi the aircraft to the parking spot. Wingwalkers were present by each wing. While completing a sharp turn to the right, the left wing struck a light pole, rupturing the n°1 fuel tank. Fuel leaked down the light pole and ignited after contacting a high voltage junction box located at the base of the pole. An intensive fire erupted, destroyed the left part of the aircraft. All occupants evacuated safely and were unhurt.
Crash of a Lockheed C-141B Starlifter at Sigonella NAS: 9 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 12, 1984
Operator:
Registration:
64-0624
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sigonella – Nairobi – Diego Garcia
MSN:
300-6037
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
27379
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine n°3 exploded. Debris from the engine and the nacelle hit the engine n°4 and penetrated the fuselage as well. The engine n°4 lost power and the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all nine occupants. The aircraft was en route to the island of Diego Garcia via Nairobi, carrying a load of paint.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a fire erupted in the cargo compartment and that toxic fumes emanated from the paints, most of them consisting of cyanure. The crew was quickly asphyxiated by these toxic fumes.
Crash of a Lockheed C-141B Starlifter on Mt Johns Knob: 9 killed
Date & Time:
Aug 31, 1982 at 1430 LT
Operator:
Registration:
64-0652
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Charleston - Charleston
MSN:
6065
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
24246
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Charleston in the early afternoon on a training mission, carrying a crew of nine. Weather conditions worsened en route with sky overcast at 4,500 feet, top of clouds at 8,000 feet and zero visibility below 4,500 feet due to rain falls and fog. The airplane struck the slope of Mt Johns Knob (4,908 feet high) located at the Tennessee - North Carolina border. The wreckage was found 118 feet below the summit and all nine occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was below minimums for military training mission.
Crash of a Lockheed C-141A-LM Starlifter at Cairo West AFB: 13 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 12, 1980 at 2353 LT
Operator:
Registration:
67-0030
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ramstein - Cairo
MSN:
6281
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
18719
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Ramstein AFB, the crew started the descent by night to Cairo West AFB when the captain decided to initiate a go-around and followed a visual traffic pattern at an altitude of 2,000 feet. While making a turn to join the approach path, the airplane banked left and descended until it struck the ground and disintegrated about 3 km northwest of the airbase. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Weather conditions were good at the time of the accident and no mechanical anomalies were found on the aircraft, its equipments and engines. Without any further details, it was reported that the runway light system installed by British Calvert System was considered as a contributing factor.
