Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 12 April 1967
Aircraft Type: Lockheed C-141A-LM Starlifter
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 66-0127
Location: Cam Ranh Bay – ÿ Vietnam
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 9
Component Affected: Automatic Spoiler Select SwitchAutomatic Spoiler Select Switch
Category: Accident
A C-141 aircraft, preparing for a night departure from Yokota AB, Japan, experienced a catastrophic failure during takeoff. The copilot inadvertently misconfigured the automatic spoiler selector, causing the spoilers to deploy to the ground position. This resulted in uncontrolled descent and a crash into the sea near the runway end. The aircraft’s poor acceleration and subsequent descent were likely exacerbated by the unexpected deployment of spoilers.A C-141 aircraft, preparing for a night departure from Yokota AB, Japan, experienced a catastrophic failure during takeoff. The copilot inadvertently misconfigured the automatic spoiler selector, causing the spoilers to deploy to the ground position. This resulted in uncontrolled descent and a crash into the sea near the runway end. The aircraft’s poor acceleration and subsequent descent were likely exacerbated by the unexpected deployment of spoilers.

Description

The C-141 had arrived at Cam Ranh Bay after a flight from Yokota AB, Japan. It was prepared for a night departure back to Yokota. While taxiing to the runway for takeoff the crew completed the Before Takeoff Checklist. The copilot inadvertently missed the item referring to the automatic Spoiler Select Switch. The switch should have been in the “Rejected Takeoff” (RTO) position, but was in the “Autoland” position when the airplane departed. Unnoticed by the crew, between 34-60 Knots, the spoilers automatically deployed to the ground position. The crew noticed a reduced acceleration rate, but elected to continue the takeoff. The aircraft became airborne, accelerated poorly and began a shallow descent. It crashed into the sea just off the end of the runway.

Primary Cause

Incorrect configuration of the automatic spoiler selector leading to uncontrolled deployment of spoilers.Incorrect configuration of the automatic spoiler selector leading to uncontrolled deployment of spoilers.

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