Incident Overview
Date: Monday 15 October 1951
Aircraft Type: Boeing C-97A Stratofreighter
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 49-2602
Location: North Atlantic –
ÿ Atlantic Ocean
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Aircraft missing, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12
Component Affected: Loran set, two radio compasses, and radio altimeter.Loran set, two radio compasses, and radio altimeter.
Category: Accident
A Stratofreighter, a commercial airliner, experienced a flight mishap in the Azores on October 14, 1951. The aircraft departed Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB (FRF) and flew directly to Lajes AFB (LFB) where it landed. Due to a loss of Loran navigation equipment, the crew returned to Lajes AFB for refueling and overnight stay, ultimately returning to FRF without reaching its destination. The incident was declared missing.A Stratofreighter, a commercial airliner, experienced a flight mishap in the Azores on October 14, 1951. The aircraft departed Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB (FRF) and flew directly to Lajes AFB (LFB) where it landed. Due to a loss of Loran navigation equipment, the crew returned to Lajes AFB for refueling and overnight stay, ultimately returning to FRF without reaching its destination. The incident was declared missing.
Description
The Boeing C-97A fight originated in Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB (FRF), Germany and departed at 08:36 UTC, October 14, 1951. It flew directly to Lajes AFB (LFB), Azores where it landed at 16:03 UTC. After refueling, the Stratofreighter took off again at 18:51 UTC. Because of the loss of the Loran set, two radio compasses and radio altimeter, the crew decided to return to Lajes AFB where it landed again at 20:19 UTC. Because of the crew duty and rest scheduling, the plane stayed overnight and took off at 08:43 UTC, October 15. The airplane never arrived at its destination and was declared missing over the North Atlantic.
Primary Cause
Loss of Loran navigation equipment.Loss of Loran navigation equipment.Share on:
