1965 Hong Kong US Marines KC-130F Crash

1965 Hong Kong KC-130F crash

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

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.

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

1. "accident report". Aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2015-06-18.