Douglas C-118 Liftmaster

Everts Air Cargo

The flight crew was landing the transport-category airplane at a remote, gravel-covered runway. According to the captain, the terrain on the approach to the runway sloped down toward the approach end, which positioned the airplane close to terrain during the final stages of the approach. A video recorded by a bystander showed that while the airplane was on short final approach, it flew low on the glidepath and dragged its landing gear through vegetation near the approach end of the runway. The video showed that, just before the main landing gear wheels reached the runway threshold, the right main landing wheel impacted a dirt and rock berm. The captain said that to keep the airplane from veering to the right, he placed the No. 1 and No. 2 engine propellers in reverse pitch. The flight engineer applied asymmetric reverse thrust to help correct for the right turning tendency, and the airplane tracked straight for about 2,000 ft. The video then showed that the right main landing gear assembly separated, and the airplane continued straight down the runway before veering to the right, exiting the runway, and spinning about 180°, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. On-site examination of the runway revealed several 4-ft piles of rocks and dirt at the runway threshold, which is likely what the right main landing wheel impacted. Given that the airplane landing gear struck vegetation and rocks on the approach to the runway, it is likely that they were below the proper glidepath for the approach. The crew stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Allcair Air Transport

The four engine aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Punta Arenas, carrying two passengers, six crew members and several sleigh dogs. On final approach, the captain decided to slightly deviate from the approach path to avoid local patches of fog and thus maintaining a visual contact with the ground. At an altitude of 450 feet, he increased engine power but the aircraft continued to descent until it struck the ground near the camp. All eight occupants and all animals were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

AeroEjecutivos

While cruising by night on a cargo flight from Willemstad-Hato Airport to Miami-Intl Airport, the four engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the Caribbean Sea. Few debris floating on water and the dead body of the copilot were found about 210 km northwest of Curaçao Island. The aircraft was flying in poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences when the accident occurred.

Air Colombia

The four engine aircraft was chartered by the Colombian Army to transfer 80 soldiers from Bogotá to Arauca. They were seating on the cabin floor with their equipment. In the morning, the crew encountered technical problems after takeoff from Bogotá Airport and was forced to return. After repairs were completed, the aircraft departed again before noon. During initial climb, the engine n°1 caught fire. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to return when the fire spread to the engine n°2. The captain realized he could not reach the airport so he attempted an emergency landing in a pasture located 16 km from the airfield. The aircraft belly landed and slid for about 400 meters before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All 85 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Conifair Aviation

A Douglas C-118A (DC-6A) fire fighting plane was destroyed in an accident near Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, QC, Canada. All four crew members were killed. The Conifair plane took off from Bonaventure Airport, QC (YVB) at 19:15 for a spray operation 30 miles southeast of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. This was to be the last spraying flight of the season out of the Bonaventure base. A crew of four was on board, including two flight engineers who were on a familiarization training flight. The aircraft was carrying 2,952 U.S. gallons of Dipel 132, a non-toxic microbial insecticide. The aircraft arrived over the spray area at 19:35. An inertial navigation system (INS) to follow pre-established spraying tracks. The first track was sprayed uneventfully. At the end of the first track, the aircraft made a 180-degree turn to spray the second track, which was parallel to and about 800 feet northeast of the first track. This meant that the aircraft had to fly from a valley at an elevation of 1,000 feet above sea level (asl) up a mountain consisting of two levels. The first level is about 1,800 feet asl and about 3,280 feet along the flight path. After the first level, the terrain rose within approximately 1,000 feet along the flight path, to the summit of the mountain at an elevation of 2,175 feet asl. The two occupants of a Cessna 310 spotter aircraft observed a decrease of the DC-6A ground speed during the climb over the first level of the mountain. They then noticed that the aircraft yawed and started a steep, left turn. The spotter crew stated that, shortly after the start of the left turn, the DC-6A left wing began to strike trees. The aircraft nosed down, crashed on the side of the mountain, and exploded at an elevation of 2,050 feet asl.

Salvadorian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña

After takeoff from San Salvador-Ilopango Airport, while in initial climb, one of the four engine failed and caught fire. The airplane was unable to gain sufficient height and struck the slope of a mountain located about 3 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 37 occupants were killed.

Northern Pacific Transport

Airplane accelerated to V1 and struck through on sandy beach. The nose pitched up and the pilot lost directional control. The airplane struck adjacent bank caught fire. It was totally destroyed.

Intercontinental Air Lease - IAL

The aircraft skidded off the departure end of the runway collapsing the landing gear in a ditch as it caught on fire. This aircraft was on a ferry flight and had several mechanical problems. Among these was the prop reversers which failed on landing. The anti-ice/de-ice systems failed to work properly which contributed to the need to land short of destination. The copilot reported that she did not check the anti-icing equipment on pre-flight. She was also not qualified to be a copilot on this flight. The airspeed indicators were malfunctioning during landing. The crew members all said that they knew the airspeed was much too high. The copilot said she could not understand how the pilot thought he could land at such a high speed. She also said he called for reverse and applied brakes too late in the rollout.

GAF International Service

Suffered an accident somewhere in the Bahamas in 1981. Exact date unknown.

Transportes Aéreos Bolivar - TAB

During the takeoff roll, the crew encountered an unexpected situation. The captain decided to abort the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. Three crew members were killed and two others were seriously injured.

LAC Colombia - Lineas Aéreas del Caribe

After takeoff from Bogotá-El Dorado runway 30, the four engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck an eucalyptus then stalled and crashed in a pasture located about one km from the airfield. Four occupants were injured while eight others were killed.

Brazilian Air Force - Força Aérea Brasileira

The airplane departed Ponta Pelada AFB in Manaus for Rio de Janeiro, carrying Brazilian soldiers and their family members. About 20 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems with one of the right engine and decided to return to Manaus for a safe landing. After touchdown, one of the right engine caught fire and exploded. The pilot-in-command stopped the airplane that was on fire. 36 occupants evacuated safely and were unhurt while 33 others were wounded. 16 occupants were killed and the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.

United States Air Force - USAF

Suffered an accident at Trabzon Airport. There were no casualties.

United States Air Force - USAF

While approaching Argentia-Bristol Field by night, the four engine aircraft crashed into the Trinity Bay about 50 km northeast of Argentia. In the early morning, few debris were found floating on water and all 23 occupants have been killed.

Alaska Airlines

The crew was performing a positioning flight from Anchorage International Airport to Elmendorf AFB. The approach was completed in marginal weather conditions with a limited visibility due to fog. On final, the four engine aircraft was too low and struck the ground 1,200 feet short of runway threshold. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft was written off.

United States Air Force - USAF

In unknown circumstances, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located five miles from Orting, killing all four crew members who were conducting a flight out from McChord AFB.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a flight from Nicosia to Tehran, carrying a load of highly sensitive equipment for the CIA. Maybe following a navigational error, the four engine aircraft penetrated the Soviet Airspace over Armenia and was later attacked by the pilots of two Soviet MiG-17. The pilot of the C-118 was able to attempt an emergency landing in a field located somewhere in Azerbaijan (the exact place remains unclear). While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, all nine crew members were evacuated.

United States Air Force - USAF

The four engine aircraft departed Long Beach Airport at 1908LT bound for McGuire AFB, New Jersey, with 35 passengers and a crew of six on board. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot was cleared to climb to the assigned altitude of 17,000 feet. About five minutes later, while climbing to an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane collided with a USN Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune registered 127723. Carrying eight crew members, the Neptune has taken off from Los Alamitos NAS and was completing a local training mission. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Norwalk. The Liftmaster crashed on several building and a fuel station, killing all 41 occupants and one woman on the ground. The Neptune crashed in a stone-pit located about 2.5 miles north of the C-118 crash site. Six crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured. The accident occurred by night but in good weather conditions with a visibility above 15 miles.

United States Air Force - USAF

The Liftmaster was engaged in a transatlantic flight from McGuire (Fort Dix) Airbase to Lakenheath, UK, with an intermediate stop at Stephenville. Less than two minutes after takeoff from McGuire AFB runway 24, while climbing, the four engine aircraft encountered poor weather conditions, stalled and crashed in a dense wooded area located 1,4 mile from the airfield. Eight crew members and 38 passengers, among them civilians, were killed while 20 other occupants were injured.

United States Air Force - USAF

Crashed on landing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.