Narrative:The C-141B departed Norton AFB for a flight to Hurlburt Field with an intermediate stop at Peterson Field. The crew had to return back to Norton due to a leaking comfort pallet. At the end of the second leg, the crew were confronted with thunderstorms covering the approach path for the ILS approach to runway 36 at Hurlburt Field, the primary instrument runway. The crew requested the TACAN approach to runway 18, which was an approach over swampy terrain. The aircraft entered a high rate of descent, causing the GPWS to sound. The copilot reset two GPWS warnings and the descent was continued below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) of 345 ft agl. The airplane finally impacted terrain in a wings level, nose low attitude.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Sources:
» C-141 Lifetime Mishap Summary / Lt. Col. Paul M. Hansen, USAFR, Ret. McChord AFB WA (1 October, 2004)
Photos
accident date:
20-02-1989type: Lockheed C-141B Starlifter
registration: 66-0150
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Colorado Springs-Peterson Field, CO to Hurlburt Field, FL as the crow flies is 1876 km (1172 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.