Christchurch - McMurdo Sound

On October 8, 1970 at 08:10 PM, Christchurch - McMurdo Sound experienced a crash involving Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation, operated by United States Navy - USN, with the event recorded near McMurdo Sound All Antarctica.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

80 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 80 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 12, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 68, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Before his departure from Christchurch, the crew was informed that weather conditions at McMurdo Sound station was favorable. Unfortunately, these conditions deteriorated in flight and upon arrival, the crew was unable to locate the runway. In such conditions, the captain decided to make a go-around and during a second attempt to land in zero visibility due to blowing snow, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the right main gear struck a snowbank and was torn off. The right wing was also torn off and the airplane crashed. While all 80 occupants were rescued, the airplane was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration 131644, MSN 4145, year of manufacture 1953.