Incident Overview
Date: Friday 23 March 1951
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-124A Globemaster II
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 49-244
Location: 725 km W off Shannon, Ireland –
ÿ Atlantic Ocean
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 53 / Occupants: 53
Component Affected: Transport planeTransport plane
Category: Accident
A Globemaster transport plane experienced a sudden incident while en route from Limestone AFB to Lakenheath, UK. The last communication received was a revised arrival time, prompting a rescue operation due to a lack of routine position reports. Only a limited amount of wreckage was recovered approximately 450 miles off the west coast of Ireland.A Globemaster transport plane experienced a sudden incident while en route from Limestone AFB to Lakenheath, UK. The last communication received was a revised arrival time, prompting a rescue operation due to a lack of routine position reports. Only a limited amount of wreckage was recovered approximately 450 miles off the west coast of Ireland.
Description
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.
Primary Cause
Lack of routine position reports leading to delayed arrival and subsequent search.Lack of routine position reports leading to delayed arrival and subsequent search.Share on:
