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Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Carlingford: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1989 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3592
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17341
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Loring AFB on a training flight. While cruising by night along the US-Canada border, the aircraft suffered an explosion, entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in Carlingford, New Brunswick. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
A fuel pump go dry and ignited fuel vapor after becoming overheated. Fifth KC-135 accident due to similar causes. At least 1,500 liters of fuel must remain in all tanks to avoid fuel pump overheating.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-105-BW Stratofortress at Loring AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0215
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
464283
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Loring AFB, while in initial climb, the crew encountered serious technical problems. Two members of the crew ejected and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion some 2-3 miles north of the airbase. All seven crew members were killed. Unfortunately, the parachutes of those members who ejected opened too late.
Crew:
Maj Nils O. A. Oxehufwud, pilot,
Cpt William N. Payne, copilot,
Cpt Theodore A. Burbank, navigator,
Maj Robert M. Murray, EWO,
Lt Col Robert C. Smith, radio navigator,
M/Sgt Earl J. Barnes, air gunner,
Col Homer C. Bell Jr., observer.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the loss of control was the consequence of a total failure of all electrical power or an issue with the water injection system was not ruled out.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Loring AFB

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3602
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17351
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Loring AFB, the crew encountered technical issues with the water injection system and the captain decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, went down an embankment and came to rest in flames, broken in two. All seven occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the water injection system due to frozen water.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Loring AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1965 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
61-0265
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
18172
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Loring AFB at 0900LT for a six hour training mission. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane suffered severe turbulences and the number three engine drag brace failed due to a missing nut. The engine swung up in front of the wing, causing a severe roll to the left. The aggressive control inputs in an attempt to level the aircraft resulted in both the #3 and #4 engines separating from the wing. The aircraft then entered a 90° right bank, plunges into the earth and crashed in a wooded area located 2,4 miles north of the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Kenneth Gomes, pilot,
Cpt Matthew Ramstsch, copilot,
1st Lt John McCarron, navigator,
S/Sgt Jimmy Tardie, boom operator.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after the number three engine drag brace failed due to a missing nut.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Loring AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3618
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17367
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff from Loring AFB, the airplane encountered difficulties to climb. The left wing stalled and struck the ground, causing the aircraft to crash and burn 2,500 feet past the runway end. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number two shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was heavily loaded at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Loring AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3605
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17354
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the landing procedure was completed in a nose down attitude and at an excessive speed. The nose gear touched down first and penetrated the fuselage, puncturing the forward body fuel tank. The aircraft slid on its nose for dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. A passenger was killed while 16 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Loring AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1958 at 0727 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3598
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17347
YOM:
17
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off at 0445 on an "Operation Headstart" refueling mission. Headstart was the 42nd Bomb Wing's operation that "proved" the concept of airborne nuclear alert with B-52 aircraft for SAC. Before take-off, the crew was notified of a no-notice Standardization Board evaluation, so in addition to the crew of 4, there was an Instructor Pilot, Instructor Navigator, and Instructor Boom Operator aboard. Upon returning to the Loring AFB area, the aircraft was cleared to make a GCA approach from the south for a touch and go landing. The aircraft touched down about 2500 feet down the runway, applied power and became airborne at about the 7000 foot mark. Because of the aircraft's weight, air temperature and the forces involved in a touch and go landing, the Pilot got the tanker airborne in a condition where there was a 35 knot gap between adequate lift for take-off and adequate airflow over the ailerons for roll authority. The aircraft rolled to the right, striking the Number 4 engine which failed due to fuel control unit damage and jamming the right aileron in a 5 degree up position. The aircraft entered a nose high, right wing low attitude and cartwheeled into the woods about 1000 feet from the runway. It broke into several major sections and burned. The Instructor Navigator and Instructor Boom Operator were able to egress the burning wreckage but the Instructor Navigator died several weeks later as a result of his burns.
Crew (42th Air Refueling Squadron):
Cpt John Eifollla, pilot, †
1st Lt Donald Gladding, copilot, †
Maj John Brown, navigator, †
Cpt Bernard Morgan, instructor pilot, †
Cpt Herman Dosenbach, instructor navigator, †
T/Sgt Ronald Champion, boom operator,
T/Sgt Charles Holsclaw, instructor boom operator.
Source: http://www.mewreckchasers.com/KC1351958.html
Probable cause:
The investigation cited issues with the KC-135A Flight Manual that did not address the "window" in which the aircraft could become airborne in a touch and go without roll control, the Pilot's inability to take proper action to deal with the loss of Number 4 engine thrust, and the Instructor Pilot not occupying a front seat, with access to controls, during a touch and go landing as required by SAC regulations.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-20-BW Stratofortress in Inver Grove Heights: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1958 at 2016 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0065
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
464017
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a routine cold war training mission out from Loring AFB, Maine. While cruising by night at an altitude of 36,400 feet over Minnesota State, the tail broke off and the airplane went into a dive. In 108 seconds, the heavy bomber descended at high speed to the altitude of 8,000 feet before crashing in a huge explosion in Inver Grove Heights, about 7,5 miles south of Saint Paul. The aircraft was totally destroyed but one crew member survived while seven others were killed.
Crew:
Cpt G. Horstman, pilot, †
Cpt Richard J. Cantwell, navigator, †
Maj S. O. Gillespie Jr., radar observer, †
1st Lt F. Huskey, flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Leon R. Lew, tail gunner, †
Cpt James D. Taylor, instructor, †
Cpt Bernard D. Lanois, instructor, †
Cpt Jack Douglas Craft.
Probable cause:
It is believed that control cables failed in flight, causing the aircraft to adopt an unusual attitude that caused the tail to be sheared off. The exact cause of this technical remains however unclear.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-60-BO Stratofortress at Loring AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0093
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17209
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Loring AFB. After several touch-and-go maneuvers, the pilots started a new approach. In poor visibility due to bad weather conditions, the airplane was too low on final and crashed in a prairie located about three miles south of the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed, eight crew members were killed while a ninth occupant was killed.
Crew:
Maj Kirkwood G, Myers, pilot,
Lt Lane L. Kittle, copilot,
Lt Leonard M. Corcaro,
Sgt Oran C. Reily,
Lt Robert F. Testerman,
Lt Leslie N. Martin Jr.,
Lt James F. Thompson,
Maj Milo C. Johnson, instructor navigator, †
Maj Moody E. Denton, pilot instructor.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-55-BO Stratofortress in Perth-Andover: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0082
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17199
YOM:
1955
Country:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
During a training flight out from Loring AFB, the crew encountered an unexpected situation. The copilot was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion in Perth-Andover, about 15 miles southeast of the airbase. The copilot survived while eight other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard A. Jenkins, †
Cpt William C. Davidson, †
Cpt John E. McCune, †
Cpt Marquid H. D. Myers, †
T/ Sgt Ray A. Miller, †
1st Lt Joe L. Church 3.