LAPES Accident 1987
Posted by michael1265@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 3 comments
https://youtube.com/shorts/xxSS6ZAb4YI?si=lBoSBU3JP-j88gn3
It seems an appropriate post for Memorial Day. I was stationed at Bragg when this happened. Once the investigation completed, I was assigned to a detail charged with picking up the smaller pieces from the accident. Anyone who has served knows joking around is an essential part of doing anything in the military. Not on this day. Hardly a word was spoken for the several hours we spent on that drop zone. I remember feeling sad for days after. Mortality was new concept to me at 22.
kogimaster@reddit
sorry to dig deeper but can u explain what happened ?i can't understand the video
michael1265@reddit (OP)
The aircraft is supposed to skim the ground and let the tank get dragged out the back of the aircraft by the parachutes. The pilot came in a little hot and bounced, and when the tank exited, the nose went down. Actual witnesses that I talked to at the time said the plane cartwheeled and burst into flames. The crew and one person on the ground were killed.
Spirit_jitser@reddit
There is a description in the video comments. The cargo damaged the aircraft on the way out, including the controls. Pilots had no control surfaces and crashed into a treeline.
LAPES is super dangerous and not done anymore.