No fatalities

Emergency landing following fuel exhaustion (FAP396)

San Juan, PeruFlight

On April 24, 1981, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules (registration FAP396) operated by Peruvian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea del Perú was involved in an aviation accident near San Juan, Peru in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew was unable to maintain flight due to the depletion of fuel reserves. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft was forced to perform an emergency landing in a field after running out of fuel during flight.

What happened

While operating in flight, the crew encountered a critical shortage of fuel. This depletion necessitated an immediate attempt at an emergency landing to avoid further complications. During the descent and subsequent landing maneuver, the aircraft struck an open field.

Upon impact, the airframe sustained significant damage, resulting in the aircraft being declared a total loss. Despite the severity of the crash landing, there were no fatalities and no injuries were reported among those on board.

Findings

  • The primary factor leading to the incident was fuel exhaustion during the en route phase of flight.

Probable cause

The crew was unable to maintain flight due to the depletion of fuel reserves.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 24 Apr 1981 Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident near San Juan, Peru?

An aircraft was forced to perform an emergency landing in a field after running out of fuel during flight.

Were there any fatalities in the 24 Apr 1981 Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 24 Apr 1981 involved a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, registration FAP396, operated by Peruvian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea del Perú, at San Juan, Peru.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew was unable to maintain flight due to the depletion of fuel reserves.