1965 Hong Kong USMC KC-130F crash

A United States Marines Corps (USMC) Lockheed KC-130F Hercules, ferrying a group of US marines back to South Vietnam from rest-and-relaxation leave in then-British Hong Kong, crashed on take-off, causing a total of 59 deaths out of the 71 people on board the aircraft on August 24, 1965.

1965 Hong Kong USMC KC-130F crash

A similar US Marine Corps KC-130F landing at Dong Ha Air Base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Accident
Date	August 24, 1965
Summary	Loss of control due to engine failure
Site	Kai Tak International Airport (HKG/VHHH) in British Hong Kong
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Lockheed KC-130F Hercules
Operator	United States Marine Corps
Registration	149802
Flight origin	Kai Tak International Airport (HKG/VHHH) in British Hong Kong
Stopover	Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam
Destination	Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, South Vietnam
Occupants	71
Passengers	65
Crew	6
Fatalities	59
Survivors	12

The accident

The accident began after the aircraft, a USMC Lockheed KC-130F Hercules (Bu.No.149802), veered to the left shortly after take-off, struck a sea-wall and then crashed and plunged into the waters surrounding Kai Tak Airport's runway at a distance of 40 ft (12 m) off Hong Kong Island.^[1]

Cause

The cause of the accident was attributed to a partial failure of the number one engine during the plane's take-off from the runway.^[1]