1965 — August 24, USMC Lockheed Hercules takeoff crash into seawall, Hong Kong — 59

–59 ASN. Tuesday 24 August 1965. Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, USMC, Hong Kong.
–59 C-130.net. C-130 Timeline. “C-130 Events from 1965.”
–58 Kimura. World Commercial Aircraft Accidents 3rd Ed., 1946-1993, V.1. 4-11-1994, p. 3-98

Narrative Information

ASN: “The Hercules was flying U.S. marines back to Vietnam after a rest and relaxation leave in Hong Kong. The airplane was bound for Da Nang Air Base and Saigon. Shortly after lifting off the runway, the airplane veered left, struck a sea wall and crashed into the water about 40 feet off an industrial suburb on Hong Kong Island.

“The no. 1 engine was delivering only partial power during takeoff.” (ASN)

C-130.net: “24 Aug 1965 USMC KC-130F BuNo #149802, c/n 3693, of VMGR-152, MAG-15, veered off runway on take-off from Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong and hit seawall, and crashed into the sea. No. 1 propeller reversed. This was the first Hercules hull loss in Marine Corps service. It was carrying Marine personnel returning to Vietnam after R & R in Hong Kong of six crew and 65 passengers, 59 were killed while flying. Aircraft commander disregarded SOP. This is the worst accident at Kai Tak. The airport was relocated to Chek Lap Kok in 1998.” (C-130.net)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network. Tuesday 24 August 1965. Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, USMC, Hong Kong. Flight Safety Foundation. Accessed 4-12-2020 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19650824-0

C-130.net. C-130 Timeline. “C-130 Events from 1965.” Accessed 4-12-2020 at: http://www.c-130.net/c-130-timeline_1965.html

Kimura, Chris Y. World Commercial Aircraft Accidents 3rd Edition, 1946-1993, Volume 1: Jet and Turboprop Aircrafts. Livermore, CA: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Risk Assessment and Nuclear Engineering Group. 4-11-1994.