1965 Hong Kong US Marines KC-130F Crash
A United States Marines Corps (USMC) Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, ferrying a group of US marines back to South Vietnam from rest-and-relaxation leave in then-British Hong Kong, crashed on take-off, causing a total of 59 deaths out of all 71 (both the flight-crew and the passengers) on board the aircraft on August 24, 1965.
 A US Marine Corps KC-130F (similar to the aircraft involved in the serious accident at Kai Tak) landing at Dong Ha Air Base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | August 24, 1965 |
| Summary | Loss of control due to engine failure |
| Site | Kai Tak International Airport (HKG/VHHH) in British Hong Kong |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Lockheed KC-130F Hercules |
| Operator | United States Marine Corps |
| Registration | 149802 |
| Flight origin | Kai Tak International Airport (HKG/VHHH) in British Hong Kong |
| Stopover | Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam |
| Destination | Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, South Vietnam |
| Passengers | 65 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 59 |
| Survivors | 12 |
The accident
The accident began after the aircraft, a USMC Lockheed KC-130F Hercules (Bu.No.149802), veered left shortly after take-off, struck a sea-wall and then crashed and plunged into the waters surrounding Kai Tak Airport's runway at a distance of 40 ft (12 m) off Hong Kong Island.[1]
Cause
The cause of the accident regarding the aircraft's crash was attributed to a partial failure of the No.1 engine during the plane's take-off from the runway.[1]
References
- "accident report". Aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2015-06-18.