Narrative:
The C-5 Galaxy was en route to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, carrying medical supplies, food and aircraft maintenance equipment for U.S. troops sent to Saudi Arabia following the Aug. 2 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. An intermediate stop was planned at Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB (FRF), Germany to have a fuel leak repaired.
Immediately after lifting off the runway at Ramstein (RMS), the airplane stopped accelerating at a speed of 161 kts. It stopped climbing at 50-100 feet and the crew members experienced severe buffeting of the airplane. The left wing dropped and contacted a large pine tree, ripping off the no. 1 engine. The C-5 rolled left and crashed. Investigators concluded that the there had been an uncommanded and inadvertent deployment of the no. 1 engine thrust reverser during takeoff.
Loss of control
» Aviation Week & Space Technology 17 Dec. 1990
accident date: 29-08-1990
type: Lockheed C-5A Galaxy
registration: 68-0228
| Status: | |
| Date: | Wednesday 29 August 1990 |
| Time: | 12:33 |
| Type: |  Lockheed C-5A Galaxy |
| Operator: | United States Air Force - USAF |
| Registration: | 68-0228 |
| MSN: | 500-0031 |
| First flight: | |
| Engines: | 4 General Electric TF39 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 9 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 17 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Ramstein AFB (RMS) ( Germany)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 238 m (781 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Ramstein AFB (RMS/ETAR), Germany |
| Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB (FRF/EDAF), Germany |
The C-5 Galaxy was en route to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, carrying medical supplies, food and aircraft maintenance equipment for U.S. troops sent to Saudi Arabia following the Aug. 2 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. An intermediate stop was planned at Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB (FRF), Germany to have a fuel leak repaired.
Immediately after lifting off the runway at Ramstein (RMS), the airplane stopped accelerating at a speed of 161 kts. It stopped climbing at 50-100 feet and the crew members experienced severe buffeting of the airplane. The left wing dropped and contacted a large pine tree, ripping off the no. 1 engine. The C-5 rolled left and crashed. Investigators concluded that the there had been an uncommanded and inadvertent deployment of the no. 1 engine thrust reverser during takeoff.
Classification:
Engine reverse issue Loss of control
Sources:
» Mike Miller (E-mail, 19-2-2012)» Aviation Week & Space Technology 17 Dec. 1990
Photos
accident date: 29-08-1990
type: Lockheed C-5A Galaxy
registration: 68-0228
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 Ramstein AFB to Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB as the crow flies is 96 km (60 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Ramstein AFB to Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB as the crow flies is 96 km (60 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: 
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Lockheed C-5
Germany- 27th worst accident (at the time)
- 29th worst accident (currently)
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