Seventeen people recover after surviving C-5 crash

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Melissa Phillips
  • 436th Airlift Wing
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Seventeen people survived a C-5B Galaxy crash less than a mile from Dover Air Force Base’s southern perimeter April 3. 

The gigantic plane, which can transport six Greyhound buses end-to-end and looms above the flightline at the height of a six-story building, crashed into a grassy field at 6:42 a.m. 

“Our crew did a spectacular job of landing the airplane in its location,” said Col. Chad T. Manske, 436th Airlift Wing vice commander and current acting commander of the wing. “Thankfully, there were no fatalities ... and by the grace of God the aircraft didn’t explode.” 

The area where the plane landed is classified as proprietary to the base and was purchased years ago to provide a cushion of airspace to protect the civilian population from extremely rare and unlikely incidents such as this, Colonel Manske said. 

At approximately 6:21 a.m., the transport plane took off headed for U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility carrying supplies destined for people serving in the global war on terror. Officials will release further details after Air Force officers analyze information collected from accident and safety investigation boards. 

In incidents like this, the crew is trained to declare an in-flight emergency and would have checked to ensure the plane was still under control. At that point, the crew would assess the cause of the emergency, process their aircraft checklists, determine a location to safely land to mitigate risks and prevent loss of life, and communicate their course of action to everyone aboard the plane, Colonel Manske said. 

Air Force and local first responders, including medical professionals, firefighters, security forces and civil engineer personnel, immediately responded to the scene.
Officials don’t know why the aircraft, fully laden with fuel for a long trip over the Atlantic Ocean, didn’t blow up on impact. 

Base officials won’t speculate on the cause of the accident, but they say they are thankful there was no loss of life. 

“Our crews are thoroughly and stringently trained on a continued basis to handle events in the aircraft,” said Col. Ronald A. Rutland, commander of the 512th Airlift Wing. “At this time we are not sure of everything that occurred during this flight; it’s currently under investigation. 

“I consider our crews here at Dover, the 512th and 436th Airlift Wings, as consummate professionals,” Colonel Rutland added. “It is with great relief that we had no loss of life in this incident.” 

The crew included 709th and 326th Airlift Squadron members and active-duty personnel from the 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. 

This particular aircraft recently underwent an avionics modernization program upgrade to convert the cockpit from 1960s instrument technology to one similar to that used by modern civilian airliners. 

Introduced in 1998, the modernization program enhances aircraft reliability and maintainability, and helps maintain structural and system integrity, while reducing operating costs, officials said. 

“The (modernized) cockpits are needed to operate aircraft in the saturated airspace over the North Atlantic Ocean and Europe,” Colonel Manske said. “It also allows us to interface with other military and civilian airplanes more precisely than before.”
Only five C-5 aircraft have been lost since the plane’s inception in 1969. Until now, no Dover planes have been destroyed. 

“The safety of the aircraft is paramount to our crews or they wouldn’t have flown it that morning,” Colonel Manske said. “It’s a great aircraft. It sustained a massive force against its hull during the crash, yet it still protected our crews.” 

A board of Air Force officers has convened and is investigating the cause of the accident. In order to protect the integrity of the investigation process, none of the crewmembers will be able to discuss the crash, officials said. The unclassified findings will be released to the public as soon as the board results are released. Officials noted such accident and safety investigations typically take about four months to complete. 

“Our thoughts, prayers and support are with the aircrew, passengers and their family members,” Colonel Rutland said. “We wish all of those who are injured a speedy recovery.” 

Lt. Col. Robert Moorman, 326th AS commander, was released April 17 from Christiana Hospital, Christiana, Del. 

Tech. Sgt. Vincent Dvorak, 709th AS, was released from Christiana Hospital April 7.
Senior Airman Nicholas Vather, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was released from Kent General Hospital-Bay Health Medical Center, Dover, Del., April 7. 

Capt. Brian Lafreda, 326th AS, was released from Christiana Hospital April 6. 

Lt. Col. Harlan Nelson, 326th AS, and Tammy Lucas, Lockheed Martin employee, were released April 6 from Kent General Hospital-Bay Health Medical Center. 

The following individuals were released from Kent General on April 3: Master Sgt. Timothy Feiring, 709th AS;Master Sgt. Michael Benford, 709th AS;Master Sgt. Brenda Kremer, 709th AS;Chief Master Sgt. David Burke, 326th AS;Chief Master Sgt. George Mosley, 709th AS;Tech. Sgt. Henry Fortney, 326th AS; Senior Airman Scott Schaffner, 89th AS, stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Staff Sgt. David Abrams, 436th AMXS; Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Paul Kath;Hannelore Kath; and retired Tech. Sgt. Raul Salamanca.