No fatalities

1977-10-11: Fairchild C-123 Provider (54-0707) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Westover AFB, United States of America

Westover AFB, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On October 11, 1977, a Fairchild C-123 Provider (registration 54-0707) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Westover AFB, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by a fire that ignited aboard the aircraft during flight, the source of which could not be determined. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781227445Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crew declared an emergency and diverted to Westover Air Force Base after a fire broke out during flight, resulting in the loss of the airframe.

What happened

During the course of the flight, the crew encountered an in-flight fire. Upon discovering the fire, the flight crew established contact with Air Traffic Control to declare an emergency situation.

In response to the onboard fire, the pilot-in-command initiated a diversion to Westover Air Force Base. During the arrival process, the aircraft experienced a hard landing. Following the touchdown, the plane came to a stop while engulfed in flames.

Despite the intensity of the fire, all occupants successfully evacuated the aircraft. There were zero fatalities and zero injuries reported among the crew or passengers. The incident resulted in the aircraft being declared a total loss due to damage sustained during the event.

Findings

Investigations into the incident identified that the primary factor was an in-flight fire of unknown origin.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by a fire that ignited aboard the aircraft during flight, the source of which could not be determined.