US Air Force Lockheed C-5 Galaxy plane crash
Dover (Delaware), USA
Updated on
After take off from Dover Air Force Base, the huge military cargo aircraft had indications of engine problems, and declared
an in-flight emergency for a No. 2 engine flameout. It turned back to perform an emergency landing on the Dover Air Force
Base. But it fell short of the runway, and crashed in a field.
The C-5 Galaxy the broke in two just behind the cockpit. The cockpit came to rest pointing toward the runway with the
fuselage settling perpendicular to the runway. The tail assembly ended up several hundred yards from the plane, and one of
the engines was thrown forward by the impact. There was no evidence of fire.
All 17 crew members aboard survived, but some suffered minor injuries. They survived because the plane hit the ground wings
level. Had they hit the wing tip first, they would all be dead.
Passengers aboard the plane said they sensed a power failure in the aircraft's engines. One of them reported that
the engines sounded like at cruising altitude, which just does not happen in five minutes.
Characteristics of the C-5 Galaxy
The C-5 Galaxy, made by Lockheed, is one of the largest military aircraft in the world. It was first delivered to the military in 1970. Even with a payload of 263,200 pounds, the latest version can fly non-stop for 2,500 miles at jet speeds.
This C-5 was assigned to the 436th Air Wing at Dover AFB, and was being operated by an Air National Guard unit.