Lockheed C-130 Hercules crash, May 23, 1974 (4 killed), S...
Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident on May 23, 1974 near Springfield Illinois, United States with 4 fatalities. Cause: Undetected preexisting fatigue...
- Date: May 23, 1974
- Aircraft: Lockheed C-130 Hercules
- Location: Springfield Illinois, United States
- Fatalities: 4
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Undetected preexisting fatigue cracks weakened the left wing, which then failed under positive aerodynamic loads from moderate turbulence.
A Saturn Airways Hercules cargo flight broke apart in the air over Illinois after its left wing failed. The aircraft crashed in an open field near Springfield and all four people on board died. The NTSB traced the failure to fatigue cracks that had gone undetected in the wing.