G'day Alan
I suspect one of the most recent (and most obvious) examples was the F27?? doing the night newspaper run to the Channel Islands. Load improperly secured and slipped during the approach putting it MEGA tail heavy. Can't remember all the details but there will be a CAA write up and there was a fair sized thread on Pprune. Anyone else got more details??
Additionally, the Fedex?? freighter out of a Miami area airport which had a load slip on rotation and crashed.
Going back a bit, we were staging out of Khartoum at midday on a Beverley. Never going to have a LOT of spare performance, but this day it didn't want to climb at all. Had a VERY close view of the palm trees with a R.o.C. in the tens of fpm. The Bev was going back to UK for a heavy overhaul after some time operating in Aden. We later heard that on the strip-down they found a large quantity of sand in the space between the freight-bay floor and the skin - about 4000 lbs!!
Thank you, Mr Bristol, for the Centaurus!
Back a bit further - APCSS (later 84 Sqdn) operating Valettas returning to Aden from Nairobi. Food in Aden was diabolical, thus the Nairobi run used to be inundated by orders for the Nairobi Cold Store for meat, milk etc. Accommodating 'Siggie' took and filled a very large order which was duly delivered direct to the aircraft just before engine start. "Put it in the chain stowage" suggests recipient. This was done but the chain stowage was right at the back of the fuselage. Result? Extended attempted take-off due to an inability to raise the tail!! ... plus VERY hot brakes.
It's happened before, and, like most aviation mishaps, will happen again. Best maxim?? ... NEVER assume - CHECK!!