Accident description
Last updated: 25 May 2013
| Status: | |
| Date: | 20 DEC 1952 |
| Time: | ca 18:30 |
| Type: | Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II |
| Operator: | United States Air Force - USAF |
| Registration: | 50-0100 |
| C/n / msn: | 43238 |
| First flight: | |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney R-4360-20WA |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 10 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 82 / Occupants: 105 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 87 / Occupants: 115 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 4 km (2.5 mls) from Moses Lake-Larson AFB, WA (LRN) (United States of America)
 |
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Moses Lake-Larson AFB, WA (LRN), United States of America |
| San Antonio-Kelly AFB, TX (SKF/KSKF), United States of America |
The Douglas Globemaster was operating as part of Operation Sleighride, an airlift to bring home Korean War veterans and enlisted men from Northwest bases. On departure from Larson AFB (LRN), the left wing struck the ground. The plane cartwheeled, broke up and caught fire.
It was concluded that the elevator and rudder gust locks had not been disengaged before departure.
Events:
Sources:
» 83 Die in aviations worst crash (The Lima News, 21-12-1952)
» E Between Nine & Ten (Time, 29-12-1952)
» Military aviation disasters : significant losses since 1908 / D. Gero, 1999
Sample newspaper article from Newspaperarchive.com
Photos
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages:
United States of America
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Douglas C-124
United States of America- worst accident (at the time)
- 22nd worst accident (currently)