1953 — Nov 17, USAF C-119F loses engine, hits paratroopers, crashes, Fort Bragg, NC– 15

–15 Aviation Safety Network. USAF C-119F crash, Fort Bragg, NC, 17 November 1953.
— 5 Crew and medical officer on the C-119
–10 Paratroopers
–15 Baugher, Joseph F. 1951 USAF Serial Numbers. Sep 16, 2009 update.
–15 Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of…C-119F…near Pope AFB:15 Killed.”
–15 Wikipedia. “List of Accidents and Incidents Involving Military Aircraft (1950-1974).

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“Date: Tuesday 17 November 1953
“Type: Kaiser-Frazer C-119F Flying Boxcar
“Operator: United States Air Force – USAF
“Registration: 51-8163
“MSN: KMC-166
….
“Crew: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
“Passengers: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
“Total: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
“Ground casualties: Fatalities: 10
….
“Location: 25 km (15.6 mls) W of Fort Bragg, NC
“Phase: Maneuvering (MNV)
“Nature: Military
….
“Narrative:

“The C-119F Flying Boxcar collided with another C-119F (51-8122) while flying in a twelve-ship formation over Holland Drop Zone near Fort Bragg. The collision reportedly occurred following an engine failure. The airplane descended over the drop zone and struck several paratroopers, killing ten. The second C-119F made a safe emergency landing.” (Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF C-119F crash, Fort Bragg, NC, 17 November 1953.)

Baugher: “8163 (c/n 166) crashed at Fort Bragg, NC during a joint airborne operation Nov 17, 1953. It was one of 12 C-119s on a troop drop and lost an engine, dropped out of formation, hit and killed ten troopers in their chutes that had been dropped from other aircraft, that in addition to 4 crew members and one medical officer that went down with the plane.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1951 USAF Serial Numbers. Sep 16, 2009 update.)

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives:
“Circumstances: The aircraft left Pope Army Airfield with 11 other similar aircraft to take part to a paratroopers dropping exercise. In flight, an engine failed. The pilot lost control of the airplane that left the formation and dove into the ground. During the dive, the aircraft hit ten paratroopers who just bailed out from other aircraft and eventually crashed in a field located few miles from the airport. All five occupants (four crew members and one doctor from Fort Bragg) were killed as well as ten paratroopers.” (Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Kaiser-Frazer C-119F-KM Flying Boxcar near Pope AFB:15 Killed.”)

Wikipedia: “17 November [1953] – USAF C-119F-KM Flying Boxcar, 51-8163, crashed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.” (Wikipedia. “List of Accidents and Incidents Involving Military Aircraft (1950-1974).)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF C-119F crash, Fort Bragg, NC, 17 November 1953. Accessed 5-14-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19531117-0

Baugher, Joseph F. 1951 USAF Serial Numbers. Nov 7, 2011 update. Accessed 1-5-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1951.html

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Kaiser-Frazer C-119F-KM Flying Boxcar near Pope AFB:15 Killed.” Accessed 5-14-2023 at:
https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-kaiser-frazer-c-119f-km-flying-boxcar-near-pope-afb-15-killed

Wikipedia. “List of Accidents and Incidents Involving Military Aircraft (1950-1974). 10-16-2009 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft,_1950-1974