Accident description
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| Status: | |
| Date: | 23 MAR 1951 |
| Type: | Douglas C-124A Globemaster II |
| Operator: | United States Air Force - USAF |
| Registration: | 49-0244 |
| C/n / msn: | 43173 |
| First flight: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 44 / Occupants: 44 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 53 / Occupants: 53 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 725 km (453.1 mls) W off Shannon, Ireland (Atlantic Ocean)
 |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Limestone-Loring AFB, ME (LIZ), United States of America |
| Lakenheath RAF Station (LKZ/EGUL), United Kingdom |
The Globemaster transport plane had left Limestone AFB for a transatlantic flight to Lakenheath, UK. The last message received by Shannon Aeradio was a revised Estimated Time of Arrival for the destination, which was passed at 01:06. A rescue operation was started when the crew did not make their next routine position report. Only a few small pieces of wreckage were found 450 miles off the west coast of Ireland.
Sources:
» Irish Aviation website
Statistics
The first loss of a Douglas C-124
The worst accident involving a Douglas C-124 (at the time)
3rd worst accident involving a Douglas C-124 (currently)
The worst accident in Atlantic Ocean (at the time)
13th worst accident in Atlantic Ocean (currently) » figures explained
The worst accident involving a Douglas C-124 (at the time)
3rd worst accident involving a Douglas C-124 (currently)
The worst accident in Atlantic Ocean (at the time)
13th worst accident in Atlantic Ocean (currently) » figures explained
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Limestone-Loring AFB, ME (LIZ) to Lakenheath RAF Station (LKZ/EGUL) as the crow flies is 4741 km (2963 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
Distance from Limestone-Loring AFB, ME (LIZ) to Lakenheath RAF Station (LKZ/EGUL) as the crow flies is 4741 km (2963 miles).
