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1956-12-31: Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation (54-0165) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

12 fatalitiesDhahran, Saudi ArabiaLanding (descent or approach)

A four-engine aircraft crashed short of the runway at Dhahran while transporting military officers under marginal weather conditions, resulting in 12 fatalities.

What happened

During a night flight from Charleston to Dhahran, a four-engine aircraft carrying high-ranking military personnel from the United States, Pakistan, and Iran crashed approximately one kilometer before reaching the runway. The incident occurred shortly after midnight under challenging meteorological conditions characterized by scattered clouds and restricted visibility. Approximately six minutes before the impact, weather reports indicated a northwest wind of 5 knots and visibility of roughly three kilometers.

Findings

  • The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with the ground.
  • The accident resulted in 12 fatalities and 26 injuries among the occupants.
  • A significant contributing factor was that the Ground Controlled Approach (GCA) system was non-functional at the time of the flight.

Probable cause

The exact cause remains undetermined, though the failure of the Ground Controlled Approach system was a critical factor during the approach.

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