Crash of a Boeing B-52G-80-BW Stratofortress at Mather AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-6482
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mather - Mather
MSN:
464187
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Sacramento-Mather AFB, consisting in a Minimum Interval Takeoff and Landing (MITO) mission. The crew started the takeoff procedure 10 seconds after a first USAF B-52 that departed the same runway. After liftoff, during initial climb, the airplane encountered wake turbulences. The pilot-in-command decided to reduce the engine power but his reaction was excessive, causing all eight engines to flame out. Due to a loss of speed, the aircraft stalled and struck the ground. It exploded on impact and debris were found on a 400 yards distance. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj James Henry York, pilot,
Cpt Lyle Allen Brunner, instructor,
Cpt Dennis Earl Davis, electronic warfare instructor,
M/Sgt Jere E. LeFever, gunner,
2nd Lt Scott A. Semmel, student copilot,
2nd Lt Peter M. Riley, student copilot,
2nd Lt Richard P. Robeson, student navigator,
2nd Lt Benjamin C. Berndt, student navigator,
2nd Lt Daniel N. Bader, student navigator.

Ground fire of a Boeing B-52G-130-BW Stratofortress at Castle AFB

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1982
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-2597
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
464360
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful training mission out from Castle AFB, the crew was returning to his base. After landing, the crew started the braking procedure when a fire erupted in the nose gear section. The aircraft was stopped and all six crew members escaped with no injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that leaking hydraulic fluid from a brake line ignited due to the hot brakes, causing a fire in the nose wheel section.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-55-BO Stratofortress near Las Animas: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0078
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
March - March
MSN:
17194
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew departed March AFB, California, on a night training flight. In the evening, while cruising at low altitude to simulate an aerial attack, the airplane struck a sand dune then crashed in a huge explosion in a prairie located few miles west of Las Animas. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James L. MacGregor, pilot,
Cpt Gani Aydoner, copilot,
Cpt Clifford R. Duane,
1st/Lt Kendall E. Wallace,
Cpt Stanley H. Eddleman,
S/A Timothy E. McFarland,
A1c Bruce E. Schaefer,
A1c David W. Smith.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-DO Stratofortress at March AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1978 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0594
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
March - March
MSN:
17277
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from March AFB, while on a local training mission, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion about 2,5 miles southeast from the airfield. A crew member was seriously injured while five others were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-52H-150-BW Stratofortress at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1977 at 0001 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0039
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer - Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer
MSN:
464404
YOM:
1960
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training mission at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB, Michigan. On a night approach completed in stormy weather, the pilot-in-command had the runway in sight when the airplane entered a cloudy area. It continued to descent until it struck the ground and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James B. Cosgrave, pilot,
1st Lt Gary Lee Hudson, copilot,
Cpt Lawrence Fitch Kraut, radio navigator,
Cpt Dennis Wilton Soerens, radio navigator,
Maj James F. Bartsch, EWO,
M/Sgt John William Moore, tail gunner,
Cpt Chris Morrill,
Cpt Pat Shortell.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-85-BW Stratofortress near Aiken: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-6493
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Seymour Johnson - Seymour Johnson
MSN:
464198
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Seymour Johnson for a routine training mission. While cruising at an altitude of 28,000 feet, a structural failure occurred in the right wing that partially detached and struck the horizontal stabilizer. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and four of the seven crew members were able to eject and were later found alive. The aircraft crashed between Aiken and Williston and disintegrated. Debris scattered on a wide area and three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James A. Perry,
Cpt Donald Exum,
Cpt Gregory A. Watts,
2nd Lt Hector M. Marquez,
Sgt Ricky K. Griffith, †
1st Lt Melvin M. Bewley, †
1st Lt Grady E. Rudolph. †
Probable cause:
A major fuel leak caused a structural failure of the right wing that separated between the third & fourth engine nacelles. The wing then shearing off the horizontal stabilizer, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-10-BW Stratofortress off Andersen AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0058
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Andersen - Andersen
MSN:
464010
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training mission out from Andersen AFB, Guam. While returning the airbase, control was lost and the airplane crashed into the sea about seven miles southeast of the airfield. Four crew members were killed while two others were rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
Cpt Stephen R. Roseman, pilot, †
Jack Watson, copilot,
Robert W. Nemeth, †
Cpt Leroy E. Pitman, †
John Y. Whitley, †
Brad Lee Buske.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of a malfunction of the gyros after the electrical system failed.

Crash of a Boeing B-52H-135-BW Stratofortress at Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: May 30, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0006
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wright-Patterson - Wright-Patterson
MSN:
464372
YOM:
1960
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Wright-Patterson AFB. On final approach, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a field. All seven crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach after rudder and elevators failed.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-95-BW Stratofortress at Beale AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0174
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Beale - Beale
MSN:
464242
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff at Beale AFB, while initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed inverted in a huge explosion. A crew member was seriously injured while all others were killed. Few days later, the only survivor died from his injuries. The airplane was engaged in a night training flight when the accident occurred.
Crew:
Cpt Paul L. Baldy, pilot,
Cpt Michael W. Forster, pilot,
Lt Neal D. Kaas, copilot,
Maj Toney V. Peter, navigator,
Cpt Lee F. Knudsen, EWO,
Cpt Thomas E. Cannon, navigator,
Sgt James M. Troutman, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during takeoff following a multiple engine failure for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-65-BO Stratofortress in Đà Nẵng

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0116
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
U-Tapao - U-Tapao
MSN:
17232
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While engaged in a bombing mission over North Vietnam, the airplane was hit by enemy fire. The captain decided to evacuate the target area and to divert to Đà Nẵng Airport for an emergency landing. After touchdown completed in difficult conditions, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overran and came to rest. While all six crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.