Narrative:
An existing 11" crack above the left side door propagated catastrophically, resulting in tearing of the upper forward fuselage skin for about 17". An explosive decompression caused large skin sections from the top and right side of the fuselage to be torn away. The airplane crashed in flames.
Fuselage failure
Loss of control
| Status: | |
| Date: | Friday 6 February 1970 |
| Time: | 02:15 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-133B Cargomaster |
| Operator: | United States Air Force - USAF |
| Registration: | 59-0530 |
| MSN: | 45581 |
| First flight: | 1960 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney T34-P-9W |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 8 km (5 mls) NNE of Palisade, NE ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Fairfield-Travis AFB, CA (SUU/KSUU), United States of America |
| Harrisburg International Airport, PA (MDT/KMDT), United States of America |
An existing 11" crack above the left side door propagated catastrophically, resulting in tearing of the upper forward fuselage skin for about 17". An explosive decompression caused large skin sections from the top and right side of the fuselage to be torn away. The airplane crashed in flames.
Classification:
Explosive decompressionFuselage failure
Loss of control
Photos
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 Fairfield-Travis AFB, CA to Harrisburg International Airport, PA as the crow flies is 3828 km (2392 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Fairfield-Travis AFB, CA to Harrisburg International Airport, PA as the crow flies is 3828 km (2392 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.
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