Although 'load shift' is strongly rumoured to be the cause of this accident, there is always the possibility of incorrectly stated load weights.
Years ago, a C-130 containing military vehicles nearly sat on its bum when the ramp was raised, because one of said vehicles had been stuffed full of contraband by some squaddie and was far heavier than the manifest stated. As luck would have it, the vehicle was right at the back of the cargo area...
Mass and balance and insecure loads must be the ever-present nightmare of the cargo flier. One of the more graphic, fortunately survivable, descriptions can be found in Ernest Gann's Fate is the Hunter when several tons of steel radio towers became loose during his take-off in a C-47, sliding to the back of the aircraft....
Last edited by BEagle; 1st May 2013 at 15:33.