C-123K 55-4518 Wreckage

[ffuries]

Here are the remains of C-123K 55-4518 Provider (c/n 20179). according to USAF Serials by Joe Baugher it started out life as a C-123B-12-FA and was converted to C-123K-12-FA, the aircraft went down 25 January 68 killing all 3 or 4 on board (Conflict as number of crew on board between different sites). Aircraft was based out of Hurlburt Field FL, and went down on final, short of the Duke Field FL runway. Tail assembly, wings, gear are all that remains of the aircraft crash site, along with various chains, tie downs, and parachute material and harness parts.

The tail number as stenciled on the Verticle stab was O-54518

[WallyB]

Shot down?

Looks like the local Good Ol' Boys have been at it.

[tom d. friedman]

it sure is peppered with bullet holes!!

[JohnB]

Is it on private property?
IIRC, military bases don't allow hunting/shooting.

[ffuries]

It is on the Eglin AFB Reservation, a recreational permit is needed from the Jackson Guard to get out to the aircraft.

http://jacksonguard.com/

[APG85]

Interesting bit of forgotten history. I wonder if the Airpark on Hurlburt has a memorial plaque dedicated to this crew? A C-141 also went down on approach to Hurlburt around 1990ish in bad weather...North end of runway in the woods/swamp. Not sure if the wreckage is still out there...

[John H S]

I was one of many involved with the attempted rescue at this crash site in 1968. Sadly, no one survived. Even though it was nearly 50 years ago the memory of this crash is as vivid as if it happened last week.

[quemerford]

The tail number as stenciled on the Verticle stab was O-54518

Minor correction: tail number would be 'zero'-54518, rather than 'Oh'-54518.

A prefix zero indicates an aircraft FY older than 10 years, two zero's 20 years etc. Done to avoid there being two '54518' tail numbers in service at the same time: i.e. 55-4518 (this C-123) and 65-4518.

There's a common misconception that the prefix is 'oh for obsolete'.

[JohnB]

I wonder if any wreckage remains of the Thunderbirds support C-123 that crashed in eastern Idaho circa 1958.