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Crash of a Lockheed C-141A-20-LM Starlifter on Mt Constance: 16 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1975 at 2315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
Operator:
Registration:
64-0641
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Clark - Kadena - Yokota - McChord
MSN:
6054
YOM:
1964
Location:
Mt Constance
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Aircraft flight hours:
16793
Circumstances:
The airplane was conducting a flight from Clark AFB, Philippines, to McChord AFB with intermediate stops at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, and Yokota AFB, Tokyo, carrying 16 people among them six marines. En route to McChord, while cruising by night, the crew established contact with ATC and was cleared to descend from FL370 to FL150 then FL100. Few minutes later, after confusing the C-141 with another Navy aircraft, the air traffic controller cleared the crew to descent to 5,000 feet which was a too low altitude for the area. While descending at an altitude of 7,000 feet in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Constance (7,756 feet high) located in the Olympic National Park, about 52 miles northwest of McChord AFB. The airplane impacted the mountain about 150 feet below the summit and caused an avalanche. Debris were found scattered on a wide area and none of the 16 occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
The air traffic controller with whom the captain conversed mistook the C-141 with another Navy aircraft. As a result, he cleared him to descend to FL050 when the minimum prescribed altitude was FL100. Due to limited visibility caused by night, lack of ground visual references and clouds, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain. This resulted to a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Convair VT-29D off Newport News: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1975 at 1836 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair T-29
Operator:
Registration:
52-5826
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Meridian - Langley
MSN:
52-25
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
M32
Location:
Newport News
Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
6840
Captain / Total hours on type:
1332.00
Aircraft flight hours:
14473
Circumstances:
While approaching Langley AFB by night on a flight from Meridian, Massachusetts, the airplane collided with a Cavalier Flyers Cessna 150 registered N50430 and carrying two people. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the James River, about four miles west of Newport News. Both aircraft were destroyed and all nine people were killed.
Probable cause:
The human limitation inherent in the see-and-avoid concept, which can be critical in a terminal area with a combination of controlled and uncontrolled traffic. A possible contributing factor was the reduced nighttime conspicuity of the Cessna against a background of city lights. The following findings were reported:
- No controlling agency,
- Not under radar contact,
- No traffic advisory issued,
- Continued versus uncontrolled traffic.
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130B Hercules in New Orleans: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
58-0721
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3516
YOM:
1959
Location:
New Orleans-Alvin Callender Field NAS
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from New Orleans-Alvin Callender Field NAS, while in initial climb, the engine n°1 failed. Control was lost and the airplane crashed near the airport. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine n°1 for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-10-BW Stratofortress off Andersen AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
55-0058
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Andersen - Andersen
MSN:
464010
YOM:
1955
Location:
Andersen AFB
All Guam Island
Country:
Guam Island
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training mission out from Andersen AFB, Guam. While returning the airbase, control was lost and the airplane crashed into the sea about seven miles southeast of the airfield. Four crew members were killed while two others were rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
Cpt Stephen R. Roseman, pilot, †
Jack Watson, copilot,
Robert W. Nemeth, †
Cpt Leroy E. Pitman, †
John Y. Whitley, †
Brad Lee Buske.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of a malfunction of the gyros after the electrical system failed.

Crash of a Lockheed WC-130H Hercules into the South China Sea: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
65-0965
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Taipei - Saigon
MSN:
4106
YOM:
1965
Location:
South China Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route from Taipei to Saigon, the airplane encountered poor weather conditions and crashed into the South China Sea. SAR operations were conducted but eventually abandoned few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 10 occupants was found. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor due to typhoon 'Bess'.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the aircraft was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules at Kadena AFB

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
63-7802
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3868
YOM:
1963
Location:
Kadena AFB
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Kadena AFB, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway to the right and came to rest. There were no injuries while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Failure of the reverse thrust system on engine n°4 after landing caused the engine to turn at full power while the reverse thrust systems run properly on engine n°1, 2 and 3.

Crash of a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy in Clinton

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
Operator:
Registration:
68-0227
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Altus - Altus
MSN:
500-0030
YOM:
1970
Location:
Clinton-Regional
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Altus AFB in the day for a refueling training mission. En route, the pilot informed ground about technical problems and decided to divert to Clinton-Sherman Airport. For unknown reason, the crew mistook the airport and landed on runway 17 (4,300 feet long) at Clinton-Regional Airport. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, lost its landing gear and came to rest in a field, broken in three. All five crew members were rescued while the forward section was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
An overheated brake ignited hydraulic fluid in the left aft landing gear well. The fire ignited tires and other components before burning through the keel beam and continuing into the right aft well. This was probably caused by a problem that occurred during taxiing at Altus AFB.

Crash of a Lockheed C-141A-LM Starlifter near La Paz: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-141 Starlifter
Operator:
Registration:
65-0274
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Howard - La Paz
MSN:
6126
YOM:
1965
Location:
La Paz
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
16339
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Howard AFN, Panama, to La Paz. While descending to La Paz-El Alto Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to clouds from 700 to 24,000 feet. The crew informed ATC about his position about three minutes from La Paz VOR when he was cleared to descend from 24,000 to 18,000 feet. Shortly later, while flying at an altitude of 18,700 feet, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (20,000 feet high) located 28 km north of El Alto Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain probably caused by a navigational error on part of the crew or a wrong instruments interpretation while descending in marginal weather conditions. The crew probably thought he was above the La Paz VOR when in reality, the airplane was few km to the east of this VOR.

Crash of a Boeing B-52H-135-BW Stratofortress at Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: May 30, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
60-0006
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wright-Patterson - Wright-Patterson
MSN:
464372
YOM:
1960
Location:
Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton)
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Wright-Patterson AFB. On final approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a field. All seven crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach after rudder and elevators failed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Agana: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1974 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
62-1841
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Andersen - Agana
MSN:
3804
YOM:
1963
Location:
Agana-Antonio Borja Won Pat
All Guam Island
Country:
Guam Island
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew departed Andersen AFB on a night training flight. While approaching Agana-Antonio Borja Won Pat Airport, the instructor shut down both engines n°3 & 4 and continued the approach when the airplane lost height and landed hard on runway. On impact, all tires on the right main gear burst. Out of control, the airplane veered off runway to the right, went through the apron, collided with a parked fighter then came to rest in flames against an embankment. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
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