Thule AFB (Pituffik)

The aircraft departed Thule Air Base on Greenland for a two-hour flight to Sonderstromfjord Air Base. From Sonderstromfjord it was to return to Thule and continue back home to McGuire AFB. The flight carried enough fuel for the flight to McGuire. Following a PAR approach the airplane landed slightly long on the 9235 feet long runway 11. The aircraft rolled for 1,500 to 2,000 feet with no thrust reverse or spoiler deployment. A go around was commenced. The plane then rotated abruptly and lifted off the runway with a pitch attitude as high as 45°. The aircraft stalled. The left wing struck the ground and burst into flames. The aircraft became airborne again with portions of the left wing missing. It flew for 650 feet before striking the ground with the right wing, causing it to catch fire. It then bounced once more and disintegrated 500 feet from runway centerline.
Source: C-141 Lifetime Mishap Summary / Lt. Col. Paul M. Hansen

The crew was engaged in a supply mission from Thule Airbase to Dye 3 Airstrip located about 320 km east of Sondreströmfjord, Greenland. On final approach, the airplane lost height and struck the ground. On impact, the landing gear, skis, outboard fuel tanks, and the number one engine were torn off as well as 12 feet from the left wing tip and six feet of the right wing tip. The airplane came to rest in flames in the snow. Seven occupants were slightly injured while the eighth one, a Danish citizen, was killed when a propeller blade detached and penetrated the fuselage.

The aircraft departed Plattsburgh (NY) on a "Chrome Dome" airborne alert over the Ballistic Missle Early Warning System (BMEWS) at Thule Air Base, Greenland. An in-flight fire caused by a faulty heater knocked out electrical power. The crew ejected over Thule Air Base, except for one who was killed bailing out through a hatch. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed onto the ice sea. High explosive of four thermonuclear bombs detonated on impact, causing widespread contamination, but no nuclear detonation. Operation Crested Ice launched to clean up radioactive ice & snow.
Crew:
Cpt John Haug, pilot,
Cpt Leonard Svitenko, copilot, †
Maj Alfred Joe D'Amario, pilot,
Cpt Richard "Dick" Marx, EWO,
Maj Frank Hopkins, radio navigator,
Cpt Curtis Criss, navigator,
S/Sgt Cal Snapp, air gunner.

The Catalina operated on a trip from Air Station Værløse via Keflavik, Reykjavik, Mestersvig, Station North, Thule, Sonderstrom and back to Værløse. The flyinbg boat departed Værløse, Denmark on 20 April 1964. On 3 May 1964, en route from Thule to Sonderstrom, the airplane suffered an no. 1 engine failure. Due to the Catalina’s single engine performance, the captain decided to make a precautionary landing when they discovered open water about 10 km south west from Upernavik. The crew was later rescued by a USAF SA-16 and brought to Sonderstrom. Two days later the Catalina was damaged beyond repair by the ice which had crushed the it.

The crew was involved in a routine survey flight over Greenland and its coasts when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances onto the Kronborg Glacier. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 12 crew members from the Thule AFB contingent were killed.

Crashed shortly after takeoff from Thule AFB while on a flight to Westover AFB. All seven crew members were injured.

Shortly after takeoff from Thule Airbase, while climbing, the pilot informed ground about an engine failure and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. Following a circuit, the crew started the descent to runway 16 but encountered poor weather conditions: light snow, visibility 1,500 meters and crosswinds gusting up to 30 knots. On short final, the aircraft was too low and the left wing contacted ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed in flames and came to rest 1,2 km short of runway 16 threshold. Ten crew members were killed while five others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

While conducting a survey flight of the iced continent, the crew encountered white conditions when the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located near Grise Fiord. All nine crew members were killed.

The crew left Thule Airbase on a supply mission to scientists based at North Ice Camp. After twelve dropping missions performed successfully, the pilot-in-command reduced his altitude to 50 feet and attempted an approach at a speed of 125 knots when he encountered white-out conditions. The airplane lost height, causing a wing to hit the ground. The aircraft crash landed 1,6 km south of North Ice Camp and came to rest. All 11 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crashed three km east of Thule Airbase while approaching the airfield. Crew fate unknown.