Night Parachute Exercise Crash at Fort Campbell AFB (49-0134)

Incident Overview and Background An aircraft departed Fort Campbell AFB in the evening as part of a combined night parachuting exercise involving 31 similar aircraft. During the flight, the aircraft's right engine caught fire, prompting the 26 paratroopers on board to abandon the aircraft and bail out. All 26 paratroopers were later found alive. The crew decided to return to Fort Campbell, but the aircraft crashed in a field. All four crew members were killed in the crash. The official investigation identified the engine fire as the probable cause of the accident. The event highlighted the risks associated with night military exercises and the importance of emergency procedures.