Advertisement

Five Killed in Crash of Cargo Plane

Times Staff Writer

A transport plane owned by a charter airline formerly operated by the CIA crashed and exploded while trying to land here late Wednesday, killing all five crew members, the Air Force said.

Air Force Master Sgt. Richard Castillo said names of the five crewmen would not be released until relatives are notified.

Witnesses said the left wing tip of the four-engine turbo prop Lockheed L-100 Hercules civilian cargo plane struck the ground in a cow pasture about 300 yards short of the runway.

Advertisement

“The plane was just getting fairly close to the ground,” said Anita Mitchell, of Vacaville, who was driving near the base. “The left hand tip of the wing hit the ground. It just exploded into a fireball.”

Firefighters poured foam on the wreckage. Only the tail section remained intact. Grass was charred for 200 yards in all directions. Air Force Capt. Tom Dolney said the plane was coming in for a landing about 5:30 p.m. after a training flight from McLellan AFB near Sacramento.

A spokesman for Southern Air Transport confirmed reports that the plane belonged to that Miami-based charter line, which formerly was owned by the Central Intelligence Agency and now is involved in the investigations swirling around the Iran- contras scandal.

Dolney said Southern Air Transport has a contract with the Navy to carry cargo in and out of Travis, which is near Fairfield.

Advertisement
Advertisement