Four-Engine Aircraft Crash After Night Departure from Ramstein AFB (68-0228)

Incident Overview A four-engine aircraft departed Ramstein Air Force Base on a mission to Dhahran, carrying medical supplies, food, and various equipment for U.S. troops based in Saudi Arabia. The flight began with a night takeoff from runway 27. During the initial climb, at an altitude of approximately 50 to 100 feet and a speed of 161 knots, the aircraft stopped climbing and began rolling to the left. The left wing struck pine trees, which tore off engine 1. The aircraft then lost control, descended, and crashed in a wooded area about one kilometer beyond the runway end. The airframe was totally destroyed. Four occupants were seriously injured, and 13 others were killed.