Giza | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from Cairo West AFB, while climbing, the four engine airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion on a small hill located near the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 17 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-141A-LM Starlifter at Cairo West AFB: 13 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1980 at 2353 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-141 Starlifter

Operator:

Registration:

67-0030

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Ramstein - Cairo

MSN:

6281

YOM:

1967

Location:

Jabal al Mansuriyah AFB (Cairo West AFB / Sphinx Intl)

Giza

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.