Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar - Accidents and Incidents

Accidents and Incidents

• 7 November 1952: Flight "Gamble Chalk One" (serial number 51-2560), part of Exercise Warm Wind, flew off course and crashed in Mt. Silverthrone, killing 19.
• 15 November 1952: Called "Warmwind Three" (serial number 51-2570), this flight, part of Exercise Warm Wind, flew off course and was lost. 20 pronounced dead.
• 23 June 1953: Shortly after a ground control approached (GCA) radar monitored takeoff from Ashiya AB, Japan, a US Air Force Flying Boxcar (49-161) turned to a heading 005 degrees magnetic (dm) and began a normal climb through the overcast. The pilot then reported that the C-119 may have scraped the tail skid on takeoff; additionally all the left seat (pilot side) gyroscopic instruments (Gyros) were not operational. A few seconds later the pilot requested immediate GCA vector to Ashiya AB, stating that co-pilot would have to fly the GCA approach from the right seat. The GCA was continuously tracking them and reported its location as 12 miles north of Ashiya AB, instructing co-pilot to turn right to a heading of 210 degrees. Then 49-161 disappeared from radar. All on board were lost
• 17 July 1953: Shortly after takeoff from NAS Whiting Field a United States Marine Corps R4Q-2 transporting 40 NROTC midshipmen apparently lost power in the port engine, and crashed and burned after hitting a clump of trees. Six injured men were found in the wreckage, but only two midshipmen and one of the six crewmen survived.
• 1954, C-119F from the 465th Trooper Carrier Wing based at Charleston AFB, SC, involved in a paratrooper exercise at Ft. Bragg, NC, crashed into a mess hall, killing numerous personnel on the ground as well as the entire flight crew, and a number of on-board paratroopers.
• 10 August 1955: Two aircraft of a nine-plane USAF flight on a training mission collided over Edelweiler, Germany. One of the C-119s had developed engine trouble and lost altitude, causing it to strike another aircraft in the formation. A total of 66 people on board the two aircraft were killed.
• 23 November 1961: Seven men died 30 miles south of Whitehorse Yukon (Canada). Three men parachuted to safety with minor injuries. A seized brake drum had caught fire and flight crew was informed by control tower of danger. Witnesses working for WP and Yukon Route railway watched as C119 slammed into the ground near mile 79.5.
• 12 December 1961: Two C-119s of the Belgian Air Force collided in mid-air near Chièvres, killing all 13 crew members.
• 26 June 1963: During a training mission near Detmold, a Belgian Air Force C-119 was accidentally shot down by British artillery. While nine paratroopers were able to jump out, 33 other paratroopers and all five crew members were killed when the aircraft crashed.
• 5 June 1965: 51-2680, a C-119F operated by the US Air Force disappeared on a military transport flight between Homestead Air Force Base, FL and Grand Turk Island Airport. Five crew and four air force mechanics were killed in the accident.
• 17 April 1966: A C-119 assigned to the 932nd Troop Carrier Group Reserve, crashed while turning to make a 2nd landing attempt just outside Scott Air Force Base in a farm field near O'Fallon, Illinois. The plane ended up on its nose with its tail section pointed skyward. All three men aboard were injured.
• 16 December 1968: A C-119 assigned to the 910th Tactical Air Support Group, Youngstown, Ohio, crashed shortly after its departure from Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico on a fight to Homestead AFB, Florida. The wreckage was found at an elevation of 3,400 feet near El Yunque. All eight occupants were killed. (Source: The Miami News, page 6-A, Dec. 17, 1968)
• 6 June 1983: Shortly after takeoff, a Republic of China Air Force C-119 crashed into Formosa Strait due to engine failure. Of the 47 people on board, 38 were killed.