Returning from short stateside mission at night, the crew was directed to park in an unusual parking location. While being marshaled into the parking spot, the left wing struck a high intensity light pole. A resulting fire destroyed the left wing. There were only minor injuries.
A reserve crew was returning from a UTA "pickup" mission. While approaching Travis AFB, they were advised that there had been a bomb threat at the passenger terminal. The crew was directed to park in a parking spot which, unknown to them, was normally reserved for tow-in parking. The Aircraft Commander twice deplaned the Loadmaster's to complain about the marshaling procedure. Convinced by the lead marshaler that "we do it all the time", and with a wing walker on each wing, and a 3rd pilot in the left sliding window, they followed the marshalers instructions. While starting a hard right turn the crew felt a bump. The left wing had struck a light pole, rupturing the #1 Main fuel tank.
Fuel ran down the light pole and into a high voltage junction box at the base of the pole, igniting a fire that spread back up the pole and onto the wing. The crew and passengers evacuated out the crew entrance door. The CFR crews were able to contain the fire to the left wing.
Investigation revealed that this parking spot was a "tow-in" only spot, as the pilot had told the marshaling team. They determined that the marshaler on the left wing was still giving a "come ahead" signal at the time of the impact. He was fixated on why the wing position light "blinked" (It had passed behind the light pole).
This accident happened after a string of MAC taxi accidents. Only months before CINCMAC had issued a message threatening strong disciplinary action and that the next crew to have a taxi accident was "walking on thin ice".