, C-141 Tail Number: 66-8087 C141HEAVEN - All there is to know, and lots more, about the Lockheed C141 Starlifter!
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C-141 Tail Number:66-8087


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


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