ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-124A Globemaster II 51-141 Seoul-Gimpo (Kimpo) International Airport (SEL)
ASN logo
 
 
Status:
Date:Friday 22 February 1957
Type:Silhouette image of generic c124 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Douglas C-124A Globemaster II
Operator:United States Air Force - USAF
Registration: 51-141
MSN: 43475
First flight:
Engines: 4 Pratt & Whitney R-4360-20WA
Crew:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 10
Passengers:Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 149
Total:Fatalities: 21 / Occupants: 159
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:near Seoul-Gimpo (Kimpo) International Airport (SEL) (   South Korea)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Seoul-Gimpo (Kimpo) International Airport (SEL/RKSS), South Korea
Destination airport:Tachikawa Air Base (RJTC), Japan
Flightnumber: 504
Narrative:
The Douglas Globemaster operated on a Military Air Transport Service (MATS) flight from Korea to Japan. Flight MATS 504, departed Seoul-Kimpo (SEL) approx 18:00. Takeoff was made on runway 32. The aircraft lost a blade off engine no. 3 just after wheels were started up. The blade penetrated the fuselage, cutting both aileron and rudder cables and killing four passengers. Before engine no. 3 could be feathered another blade separated from engine no. 3, knocking out engine no. 4. With full power on engine no. 1 and engine no. 2 the aircraft wanted to roll over to starboard. Aircraft Cmdr Cartwright reduced power on both running engines to prevent a wing-over. With no directional control at 100 feet AGL and the DMZ just two miles ahead, a mud bar in the Han River was the only option to save crew and passengers, for if they had crossed the DMZ, North Korea would have shot down aircraft.
The top passenger deck collapsed on impact, crushing some passengers and injuring others. Incoming tide from the Han River Estuary reduced the mud bar. Survivors had to cling to ice flows in the river. The US Army 1st Helicopter Amb Company evacuated 128 survivors to 121st Army Evacuation Hospital or to a levee on the west side of Han River.

Classification:
Prop/turbine blade separation
Forced landing outside airport

Sources:
» E-mail Bob McCreary, 22-7-2009


Photos

Add your photo of this accident or aircraft

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 Seoul-Gimpo (Kimpo) International Airport to Tachikawa Air Base as the crow flies is 1135 km (710 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

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.
languages: languages

Share

Douglas C-124

  • 448 built
  • 23rd loss
  • 15th fatal accident
  • 5th worst accident
» safety profile

 South Korea
  • 4th worst accident (at the time)
  • 9th worst accident (currently)
» safety profile

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org