1968 — Dec 14, USAF C119 Roosevelt Roads NAS takeoff plane crash near San Juan, PR–8

–8 Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF Flying Boxcar, 14 Dec 1968, PR.
–8 Baugher. 1951 USAF Serial Numbers. 11-7-2011 rev.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:

Date: Saturday 14 December 1968
Type: Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar
Operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration: 51-2667
….
Crew: Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8
Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
….
Location: 37 km (23.1 mls) ESE of San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Crash site elevation: 1036 m (ee99 feet)
….
Departure airport: Roosevelt Roads-Roosevelt NAS [Naval Air Station], Puerto Rico
Destination airport: Homestead AFV, FL
Narrative:

“A Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar transport plane was destroyed when it crashed into a mountainside near San Juan, Puerto Rico. All eight on board were killed. The airplane departed Roosevelt Roads NAS (NRR) on a routine training mission to Homestead AFB, FL (HST). After developing radio trouble, the crew decided to return to the air base. The airplane failed to return. The wreckage was found the next morning at an elevation of 3,400 feet on the side of Pico del Este in the El Yunque mountain range.”

Baugher: “Fairchild C-119C-26-FA Flying Boxcar….2667 (c/n 10656) converted to C-119G. Crashed Dec 14, 1968 shortly after takeoff from Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. 8 were onboard. Wreckage found near El Yunque on mountain peak 23 mi SE of San Juan.” (Baugher. 1951 USAF Serial Numbers. 11-7-2011 rev.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF Flying Boxcar, 14 Dec 1968, Puerto Rico. Accessed 4-6-2022 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19681214-0

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