Date:4 Oct l995
Cause:Mechanical Failure
Condition: Night/VMC
Wing/Base: 446MAW/KTCM
Location: Thessoloniki Greece
Tail#:38087
Soon after level-off on a UN relief mission, the aircraft started experiencing
multiple systems failures. The crew identified a fire within the #4 engine pylon.
When shutting down the engine failed to put out the fire, they began a high-speed
emergency descent and visual approach. The crew evacuated safely.
The mission was scheduled as a UN relief mission to Zagreb Yugoslavia from Skopje
Macedonia. Soon after takeoff, the jumpseat pilot thought he smelled smoke, but
the odor soon went away. Passing 17,000 feet, the Engineer noticed a differential
fault in the #4 generator; it was disconnected. Passing FL230, #1 hydraulic
system failed.
Moments later, they had indications of a right bleed duct overheat. Scanning the
wing, the jumpseater thought he saw a light coming from a hole in the pylon of #4
engine. When the throttles were retarded, the light went out momentarily, and
then came back. The #4 engine was immediately shutdown with the fire handle. The
light in the pylon flickered, and then came back again.
The crew requested an emergency descent and vectors to the nearest airport, from
Athens ControL They were advised that they were almost directly above
Thessoloniki airport The pilot began a high-speed descent, descending to 3000
feet in 90 seconds (about 18,000 fpm). As they rolled out for the visual
approach, they had a hard time locating the airport among the city lights. Still
at over 460 Knots airspeed, they acquired the runway at 3 miles. The aircraft was
configured and landed at Thessoloniki, only four minutes after the original
distress radio call. The nine Reserve crew members and 16 passengers evacuated
safely.
Three U.S. Air Force C-141 Starlifters taxi for take off at Elmendorf AFB,
Alaska.
First in line is 63-8087.
They were participating in "Northern Edge 96".
Exact Date Unknown.
Copyright © - USAF photo
Source: submitted to C141Heaven by John Mills
This next set of photos was provided to C141Heaven by David Parkhurst.
They show 63-8087 after it departed the main taxiway at Diego Garcia. The crew
said the breaks failed and they had to switch to emergency breaks to get it
stopped.
It blocked the taxiway most of the night. Because of the angle and the soft dirt
it couldn't be unloaded and normal towing from the front didn't work because of
the weight.
The next day David went down with a SAC crew chief and used two C-5 tow vehicles
attached to the main landing gear with cables to pull it back on to the taxiway.
All photos by an unknown Navy photographer.
According to David the two British customs guys in the next couple of photos were just joking around. The aircraft was fully loaded, and as seen in the earlier photos, pretty well stuck in the sand. These Land Rover shots are all for their scrapbooks.
Years later...it's a goner!
Copyright © - Steve Hall