What happened
On the night of 11 June 1999, an RAF Hercules with registration XV298 was operating a mission to retrieve equipment and personnel from the Kukes airstrip in Albania. The flight originated from Italy and arrived at the destination using standard Night Vision Goggle (NVG) protocols for landing on an unlit runway.
Prior to the operation, the flight crew had received briefings indicating that the runway length would be sufficient to accommodate the takeoff run from the designated pickup point to the end of the strip. However, during the departure phase, the crew encountered difficulty identifying the runway's terminus because nearby artificial lights compromised the effectiveness of their night vision equipment.
As the aircraft began its takeoff roll, it encountered a fence and various other objects on the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to decelerate and veer toward the right side of the runway. The collision resulted in severe damage to the right wing of the XV298. This structural failure led to a fuel leak which subsequently ignited, resulting in a fire that caused extensive destruction to the airframe.
Findings
- The presence of nearby artificial lighting interfered with the crew's ability to use night vision goggles effectively.
- The crew could not visually identify the end of the runway due to light pollution affecting their vision.