1 fatality

Aircraft Crash During Training Mission at Fort Bragg AFB (74-1681)

Fort Bragg AFB, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On August 9, 1989, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (registration 74-1681) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Bragg AFB, United States of America during landing or approach. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The airplane became unstable, stalled, and crashed after the M551 Sheridan tank became stuck with the parachute cables during the airdrop. 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 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft crashed during a training mission at Fort Bragg AFB after a dropped M551 Sheridan tank became entangled with parachute cables, resulting in one fatality and six injuries.

Incident Overview and Context A four-engine aircraft was conducting a training mission at Fort Bragg AFB when an accident occurred. The specific aircraft type, registration, operator, and exact date are not provided in the source material. The incident involved the airdrop of an M551 Sheridan tank over the Sicily Drop Zone. During this operation, the tank became stuck with the parachute cables. This entanglement caused the airplane to become unstable. The aircraft subsequently stalled and crashed. The source does not specify the exact location of the crash beyond the context of the training mission and drop zone. ## Casualties and Impact The accident resulted in significant casualties among the occupants. Six crew members were injured in the crash. A seventh occupant was killed. The source does not provide further details on the nature of the injuries or the identity of the deceased. The incident highlights the risks associated with airdrop operations, particularly when cargo becomes entangled with delivery systems.

Probable cause

The airplane became unstable, stalled, and crashed after the M551 Sheridan tank became stuck with the parachute cables during the airdrop.