Aircraft stall and crash during training flight at Agana Airport

5 fatalities • Agana-Antonio Borja Won Pat, Guam Island • Landing (descent or approach)

A training flight involving an aircraft with five crew members and three passengers crashed short of the runway threshold at Agana Airport following an engine stall.

What happened

During a local training mission operating out of Agana Airport, an aircraft carrying a total of eight people—consisting of five crew members and three passengers—experienced a fatal accident. The passenger manifest included two Army officers and one flight attendant from Pan Am. As the aircraft was performing its final approach to the runway, it entered a stall and impacted the ground short of the runway threshold.

Following the impact, a significant post-crash fire broke out, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe. The accident resulted in five fatalities and left three survivors with injuries.

Findings

Preliminary reports indicated that the aircraft was operating under specific training conditions at the time of the accident. It was noted that one of the engines was not producing power during the final approach phase, a condition believed to have been intentionally implemented to simulate an engine failure for instructional purposes.

Probable cause

The aircraft entered a stall during a simulated engine failure procedure on final approach.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1972-12-09 Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident near Agana-Antonio Borja Won Pat, Guam Island?

A training flight involving an aircraft with five crew members and three passengers crashed short of the runway threshold at Agana Airport following an engine stall.

Were there any fatalities in the 1972-12-09 Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 5 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1972-12-09 involved a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, registration 64-0505, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Agana-Antonio Borja Won Pat, Guam Island.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft entered a stall during a simulated engine failure procedure on final approach.

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