Lockheed C-130 Hercules crash, Jun 11, 1999, Kukës
Lockheed C-130 Hercules accident on June 11, 1999 near Kukës, Kukës, Albania with no fatalities. Cause: Take-off distance was insufficient for a safe...
- Date: June 11, 1999
- Aircraft: Lockheed C-130 Hercules
- Location: Kukës, Kukës, Albania
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Take-off distance was insufficient for a safe airborne take-off, due to conflicting tactical landing zone procedures, inaccurate airstrip data and reduced night vision goggle performance, according to the Board of Inquiry.
A Royal Air Force Hercules landed on an unlit Kukes airstrip in Albania at night to collect personnel and equipment. Artificial lights interfered with the crew's night vision goggles, so the runway end was not visible, and the take-off run ended in a fence and ground obstacles. The wing was damaged, fuel ignited and fire destroyed much of the aircraft. No one was killed.