United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947)

The crew departed Little Rock-Jacksonville AFB for a training mission. While flying by night in poor weather conditions, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Conway, about 20 miles northwest of the airbase. All eight crew members were killed.

On approach to Sparrevohn Airfield, the four engine airplane crashed few hundred yards short of runway. It was destroyed upon impact, killing all seven occupants.

The crew was completing a local training flight at Bicycle Lake AFB. On final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.

While taxiing at Keflavik Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly, causing the propellers of both left engine to struck the ground as well. A fuel tank was punctured and a fire erupted. All 17 occupants were able to evacuate safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

En route, the crew contacted ATC and declared an emergency following an in-flight fire. The pilot-in-command diverted to Westover AFB and the airplane landed hard and came to rest in flames. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

En route from Kirtland AFB to Nellis AFB, the four engine airplane crashed less than three minutes after a night takeoff in a mountainous area located in the Manzano Mountain Range, about 5 miles east of Kirtland AFB. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 20 occupants were killed. After takeoff from runway 08, ATC informed the crew about an insufficient altitude and instructed the crew to turn to the right and gain height. Shortly later, at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the airplane struck the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain, less than 30 feet below the summit.

The crew was completing a night training mission at Beale AFB consisting of touch-and-goes. After touchdown, the airplane collided with cattle roaming on runway. Decision to abort was taken but unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in flames. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed. Five cattle were killed.

The crew was performing a local training mission at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB, Michigan. On a night approach completed in stormy weather, the pilot-in-command had the runway in sight when the airplane entered a cloudy area. It continued to descent until it struck the ground and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James B. Cosgrave, pilot,
1st Lt Gary Lee Hudson, copilot,
Cpt Lawrence Fitch Kraut, radio navigator,
Cpt Dennis Wilton Soerens, radio navigator,
Maj James F. Bartsch, EWO,
M/Sgt John William Moore, tail gunner,
Cpt Chris Morrill,
Cpt Pat Shortell.

The four engine airplane departed Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB in the early morning on a flight to Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport. En route, the partially disintegrated in the air, entered a dive and crashed in a swampy area located 12,5 miles southwest of Alpena. 15 occupants were killed while five others were rescued.

The Starlifter registered 67-0006 had a recent history of weather radar problems. It had been written up by crew members eight times previously. On the day of the accident the maintenance crewman, unaware of the previous problems, checked the radar. It seemed to be working, so it was signed off as "Ops Check Okay". Shortly after takeoff from McGuire AFB, the crew noticed that the radar was inoperative. Since severe weather was not forecast, they elected to continue to RAF Mildenhall, UK. Two hours after takeoff, British forecasters issued a SIGMET for "Moderate to occasional severe clear air turbulence from FL240 to FL400", but the crew never got this report. Four hours after takeoff the crew updates the weather forecast. They receive a weather forecast of "3/8 at 3000 feet, 4/8 at 4000 feet with an intermittent condition of wind 030/12 gusting 22, visibility five miles in thunderstorms, 2/8 at 2000 feet 5/8 at 2500 feet". The crew then attempted to get an update one hour from Mildenhall, but was unable to contact the base. Another station reported "4/8 Thunderstorms tops to FL260". During the enroute decent they entered the clouds. At FL150, they requested vectors around the weather. Because the primary radar was inoperative, the controller advised that he would have difficulty providing avoidance vectors. The aircraft then entered the leading edge of a very strong line of thunderstorm cells. One estimate indicated they encountered a 100 mph downward vertical airshaft. The right wing had failed, followed quickly by the upper half of the vertical stabilizer, and the four engines.
Source: C-141 Lifetime Mishap Summary / Lt. Col. Paul M. Hansen