C-5 Crash in Delaware

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

At approximately 6:20 AM, EST this morning( 4/3/06) , a C-5 from the Dover AFB crashed in the proximity of Dover AFB along Rt 9 . The plane lost its tail and broke in half behind the cockpit area. No signs of fire or explosion. From the helicopter views of the crash it appears to be a crash landing. Crew members were taken to local hospitals according to WPVI 6, ABC news. It crashed just short of the runway. According to later reports it was attempting to return to the base after encountering problems after take off.

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/

Live coverage at the above link.

[TimAPNY]

Thankfully it appears that one one was killed. Its a bit strange to see a C-5 like that.

And Wow that is one long rubber slide!

[Brian]

Tim, fortunately it appears that you got a bit of wrong info, as none of the news shows are reporting any fatalities. In fact, so far they are saying the injuries are not serious.

[pilot06]

I guess that C-5 cockpit display will be easier to set-up now. Must have been a hellofa landing.

Patrick

[mrhenniger]

I took a quick look at the articles and I didn't see anything about the C-5 record. Have any been lost in service before?

Did it slide along the ground for some distance?

Did it go down on it's climb out or did it crash after turning around for return to the airport?

Mike

[chico]

Reports indicate that the A/C lost an egine and was attempting to return to base. It looks like it *litterally* lost an engine, since #1 doesn't seem to be attached to the wing. Could've happened on impact. No fatalities.

Let's see; the aircraft lost an engine, encountered a hard landing, tail broke off, the aircraft spun down the runway, the nose separated and finally slid to a stop.

Clearly the pilot was up late last night watching "Air America" and was merely imitating Robert Downy jr.'s hard landing of a C-123. When will they learn to stop showing mindless violence on TV!?!?! Won't someone please think of the impressionable young pilots!!

[chico]

I took a quick look at the articles and I didn't see anything about the C-5 record. Have any been lost in service before?

Did it slide along the ground for some distance?

Did it go down on it's climb out or did it crash after turning around for return to the airport?

Mike

The CNN article (which quotes globalsecurity.org) says that three C-5's have been destroyed in ground fires and four (counting this one) involved in crashes. Most notable was a C-5 involved in carrying orphans out of Vietnam in 1975. 138 aboard killed, including 127 children.

[RMAllnutt]

A C-5 was lost in Germany during Dessert Shield. If I remember correctly, it was lost due to a mechanical failure which activated one of the thrust reversers during takeoff. There were a significant number of fatalities sadly.

Richard

[Brian]

The CNN does indeed mention four crashes, but states they got their info from the USAF site. THAT site mentions only two crashes. I've only been able to find info on the Viet Nam and Ramstein crashes. Anyone find anything else?

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

The engine could be seen on theground in front of the plane. Apparently they lost power and as the plane slid to a stop, the engine broke off of its mount and came to rest a few yards infront of the leading edge of the left wing. 3 people are hospitalized. The other 14 have been treated.

Last edited by Jiggersfromsphilly on Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[TimAPNY]

Tim, fortunately it appears that you got a bit of wrong info, as none of the news shows are reporting any fatalities. In fact, so far they are saying the injuries are not serious.

I should have proof read that a bit better, I meant, "no one was killed".

Tim

[Don Martin]

A 443rd MAW C-5 crashed while shooting touch and goes at the former Clinton-Sherman AFB, Ok in about 1974 Another C-5 was lost in Viet Nam at the end of the war. It was carrying a belly full of children when it crashed on take-off .

On April 4, 1975, two USAF aircraft were supplied to participate in Operation "Babylift". A C-5, which was returning to the Philippines after delivering war material, and a C-9 were loaded with children from Saigon'' orphanages and female government employees. As the C-5 ascended to 29,000 feet, a section of the tail blew out causing rapid decompression and numerous injuries. With great difficulty, the pilot managed to land the aircraft south of Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, in the silt of the Mekong River Delta. The nurses and technicians aboard did their best to save as many children as they could. Several were awarded the Medal of Honor. At first, there was no explanation for the explosion, but Air Force officials feared sabotage. Major General Lyn, Commander of the 13th Air Force, decided to use Security Police as guards on all future evacuation flights to preclude future disasters. By 0200, April 5, 1975, he had made arrangements with Colonel Martin, 3 SPG/CC, to deploy members of the Resource Protection section at Clark AB Philippines, as evacuation escorts. Two fully armed Security Policemen rode "shotgun" on every evacuation flight.

I believe one more was lost in the 70s but, Im not sure of the circumstances behind it. I knoe that the C-5A run was 80 aircraft and that when I was Fixing them in the late 70s/early 80s there were only 77 left.

[Paul Krumrei]

I do remember the Ramstein crash when in the Desert. The reverse thruster went off on take off.

In the early morning hours of August 29th, 1990, a C-5 Galaxy transport took off from Ramstein Air Base in Germany in support of Desert Shield. It was flown by a volunteer Reserve crew from the 433rd Airlift Wing in Texas.

As the aircraft started to climb off the runway, one of the reverse thrusters suddenly engaged. This caused the aircrew of the C-5 to lose control. The aircraft nosed over, one of it's wings plowed through the woodline just beyond the base perimeter and crashed in a field beyond.

Of the 17 people onboard, only 4 survived the crash. All four were in the rear troop compartment. The sole aircrewman to survive, Staff Sgt. Lorenzo Galvan Jr., was awarded the Airman's Medal for his actions in evacuating the survivors from the wreckage.

http://rustyknight98.com/C5/C5.htm

[Paul Krumrei]

A C-5 Galaxy crash-landed at Rogers Dry Lake Bed on May 2, 2001.

Note nose gear

[Don Martin]

I saw a C-141A that landed with out the aide of the nose gear, after it was repaired. The whole FWD section from just behind the nose gear well and about 3ft up was brand-spanky new sheet metal! I've never seen so many button-head rivets in one place!