Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

Historical safety data and incident record for the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II aircraft.

Safety Rating

9/10

Total Incidents

53

Total Fatalities

538

Incident History

United States Air Force - USAF

Cape Newenham Alaska

Upon landing at Cape Newenham Airport, the four engine airplane went out of control and veered off runway. It went down an embankment, lost its tail and came to rest. There were no casualties.

May 3, 1972 11 Fatalities

United States Air Force - USAF

Paramaribo Paramaribo City District

The crew started the descent to Paramaribo-Zanderij Airport in poor weather conditions when the four engine airplane struck a hill (1,716 feet high) located 68 km southeast of its destination. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed. For unknown reason, the crew started the descent prematurely and continued the approach below the minimum descent altitude.

August 26, 1970 7 Fatalities

United States Air Force - USAF

Mt Pavlof Alaska

In limited visibility, the crew started the descent to Cold Bay when the four engine aircraft struck the slope of the Pavlof Volcano located 36 miles northeast of Cold Bay. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven crew members were killed. The airplane was inbound from McChord AFB, carrying seven tons of satellite observation equipment for use with the Optical Satellite Observing System. It is believed that the crew started the descent prematurely.

July 28, 1968 10 Fatalities

United States Air Force - USAF

Recife Pernambuco

The crew started the descent to Recife-Guararapes Airport by night when at an altitude of 1,890 feet, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located some 80 km northwest of Recife. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 10 crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

Hickam AFB Hawaii

Suffered a ground accident at Hickam Field AFB. There were no casualties while the aircraft was destroyed.

United States Air Force - USAF

Whiteman AFB Missouri

On final approach to Whiteman AFB, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go-around for undetermined reason when the airplane stalled and crashed short of runway threshold. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

February 12, 1966 8 Fatalities

United States Air Force - USAF

Mt Mulhacén Andalusia

On a flight from Morón AFB to Murcia-San Javier AFB, while in cruising altitude, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Mulhacén (3,478 meters high) located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. All eight crew members were killed.

March 24, 1965 6 Fatalities

United States Air Force - USAF

Cordova Maryland

The crew departed Dover AFB on a training mission. During flight, the right wingtip detached and separated until the engine number four. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located near Cordova. All six crew members were killed.

January 22, 1965 10 Fatalities

United States Air Force - USAF

Kalávryta West Greece / <U+0394><U+03C5>t<U+03B9><U+03BA><U+03AE> <U+0395><U+03BB><U+03BB><U+03AC>da

While cruising in cloudy conditions, the four engine aircraft struck the snowy covered Mt Helmos located near Kalávryta, some 40 km southeast of Patras. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 10 crew members were killed.

May 9, 1964 6 Fatalities

United States Air Force - USAF

Cooperton Oklahoma

En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. The airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an uninhabited area located near Cooperton, OK. The debris were found on a large area and all six crew members were killed.

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Safety Profile

Reliability

Reliable

This rating is based on historical incident data and may not reflect current operational safety.

Primary Operators (by incidents)