Navy C-2 Greyhound Crash

This C-2 Greyhound had cargo shift aft during the catapult launch which resulted in a severely aft CG.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Grumman
• C-2 Greyhound
• crash
• center of gravity
• aircraft carrier
• catapult

[Xonroht]

While going through survival training instructor school (nawstpi) we were told that the original loadmaster refused to certify the cargo. The CO of the ship insisted that the aircraft take off and got more junior loadmasters to take the flight. The original loadmaster was told he would be court martialed for disobeying a direct order. He watched the crash from the deck of the ship, there were no survivors.

[usmctanks1]

God bless the flight crew for doing such a difficult job (well) and being killed in a sensless accident (which do happen). I spent some time as marine xo of the detachment on the Kennedy and I found the flight deck to be a ballet of incredible danger and hard hard work. I remember two aircraft going down and the bodies were never recovered. It was a sobering time i can tell you

[fushheads]

According to our API instructor, they were flying off a really large engine part. It was contained in a wooden box. The box was properly secured but the item inside was not. Before the C-2 is even off the deck the two crewmen in back are dead from the part leaving the box and crushing them between it and the rear of the aircraft. When it dives the part slammed forward into the cockpit killing the pilots. Whole crew dead before the plane hit the water.

[mechan9]

Horrifying. 

[dlong43]

Lost two pilot friends that day. I didn't know the others killed. Big rush to get off the deck and wrong weight specs for ship generator cargo.

[Sublette217]

This is U.S. Navy Grumman C-2A Greyhound, BuNo 155120, of VRC-50, crashing on takeoff from USS Ranger, in the Gulf of Tonkin on 15 December 1970.