Date:	Wednesday 29 August 1990
Time:	12:33
Type:	Lockheed C-5A Galaxy
Owner/operator:	United States Air Force - USAF
Registration:	68-0228
MSN:	500-0031
Year of manufacture:	1971
Engine model:	General Electric TF39
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 17
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Ramstein AFB (RMS) -   Germany
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Ramstein AFB (RMS/ETAR)
Destination airport:	Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB (FRF/EDAF)

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.

Mike Miller (E-mail, 19-2-2012)
Aviation Week & Space Technology 17 Dec. 1990

photo (c) United States Air Force; Ramstein AFB (RMS); 29 August 1990; (publicdomain)

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