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C-141 Tail Number: 64-0624

64-0624 was the first C-141 assigned to the 437th MAW at Charleston on 8/14/1965.

This photo of 64-0624 was contributed by Walt Chapman Jr.
It was taken in Feb 1970 at Howard AFB, Panama.

This aircraft was destroyed on 12 July 1984, in an accident involving multiple engine failures at NAS Sigonella, Italy.

Immediately after takeoff from Sigonella the aircraft's #3 engine experienced an uncontained engine failure. Debris from #3 engine caused #4 engine to also fail. Engine parts entered the cargo compartment and started a fire in a pallet containing paint. The cargo fire produced thick poisonous smoke. Several crewmembers had difficulty donning their oxygen masks. Smoke made visual control of aircraft extremely difficult.

The aircraft entered a steep bank and crashed just 198 seconds after takeoff. Eight crewmembers and one passenger were killed.

Post crash toxicology indicated the crew had received potentially fatal levels of cyanide poisoning from the smoke prior to impact. Subsequent to this accident, smoke goggles were added to crew oxygen masks.

The above information was provided by Paul Hansen

Last Updated: Friday, July 20, 2007 04:31 pm

Photo Credit Small Print