Tripoli – Nairobi
Flight / Schedule
Tripoli – Nairobi
Aircraft
Lockheed C-130 HerculesRegistration
56-0546
MSN
3154
Year of Manufacture
1958
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFDate
May 17, 1962 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Nairobi Nairobi City District
Region
Africa • Kenya
Coordinates
-1.2900°, 36.8250°
Crash Cause
Weather
Narrative Report
On May 17, 1962 at 12:00 AM, Tripoli – Nairobi experienced a crash involving Lockheed C-130 Hercules, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Nairobi Nairobi City District.
The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.
13 people were known to be on board, 13 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 7, passenger fatalities: 7, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is weather. The crew was completing a flight from Wheelus Airbase in Mitiga to Nairobi, carrying support personnel and equipment for the recovery team of the Aurora 7, the second American manned orbital flight. While descending to Nairobi from the west, after a holding circuit, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds and located 32 km west of the airport of Nairobi-Embakasi. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration 56-0546, MSN 3154, year of manufacture 1958.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -1.2900°, 36.8250°.
Fatalities
Total
13
Crew
6
Passengers
7
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew was completing a flight from Wheelus Airbase in Mitiga to Nairobi, carrying support personnel and equipment for the recovery team of the Aurora 7, the second American manned orbital flight. While descending to Nairobi from the west, after a holding circuit, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds and located 32 km west of the airport of Nairobi-Embakasi. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.
Cause: Weather
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
6
Passengers On Board
7
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 13
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Tripoli – Nairobi
Operator
United States Air Force - USAFFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Africa • Kenya
Aircraft Details
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