14 fatalities

Aircraft crash during electronic surveillance mission near Gunsan (54-4040)

Gunsan, South KoreaLanding (descent or approach)

On March 20, 1960, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune (registration 54-4040) operated by Republic of China Air Force (Taiwan) was involved in an aviation accident near Gunsan, South Korea during landing or approach. 14 people were killed. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed while approaching Gunsan during an electronic intelligence mission originating from Hsinchu, resulting in the deaths of all onboard.

What happened

During an electronic intelligence (ELINT) mission, an aircraft crashed while performing its approach to Gunsan. The flight had originated from Hsinchu and was engaged in electronic surveillance operations at the time of the accident.

All 14 individuals on board the aircraft perished in the crash. The incident occurred during the approach phase of the flight, as the crew was maneuvering toward the destination airport.

Findings

No specific technical findings or contributing factors were provided regarding the mechanical state of the aircraft or the specific environmental conditions at the time of the impact.