Incirlik AFB (Adana)

Following a logistic mission, the crew was returning to Adana-Incirlik Airbase. While descending to an altitude of 5,000 feet, the crew was cleared to continue to 3,000 feet when an explosion occurred in the left wing. Out of control, the airplane crashed on a hill located 25 km from the airbase and burst into flames. All 18 occupants were killed. It is believed that an explosion occurred in a fuel tank located in the left wing.

Just after liftoff at Incirlik AFB, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed. Four crew members were killed while five others were injured.

The crew departed Incirlik AFB near Adana on a survey flight over Turkey. The mission consisted of an overflight of the region of Trabzon and Van, maintaining a minimum distance of 160 km with the Turkey/Armenia border. The crew passed over the city of Trabzon at an altitude of 25,500 feet and instead of changing its direction to the south bound for Van, the airplane continued to the east. While flying over Armenia at an altitude of 22,000 feet, the Hercules was shot down by an air-air missile fired by the pilot of a Soviet fighter. Out of control, the four engine aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the city of Talin. Few weeks later, the bodies of six crew members were transferred to the US Authorities while nothing was heard anymore about the 11 intelligence-gathering personnel belonging to the United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS).

Few minutes after its night takeoff from Naples-Capodichino Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Vesuvius (1,281 meters high) located about 14 km south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 16 occupants have been killed.