Crash of a Grumman S2F-1 Tracker near South Weymouth NAS: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
133176
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
South Weymouth - South Weymouth
MSN:
147
YOM:
1957
Location:
South Weymouth NAS
Massachusetts
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at South Weymouth NAS. On approach, the left engine failed and was shut down. Then the right engine lost power and white smoke got out. The airplane lost height then crashed few miles from the airfield. Both crew members Cdr Bailey and Lcdr Marriott were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Grumman TS-2A Tracker in Laytonville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1978 at 1746 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
N448DF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ukiah - Ukiah
MSN:
179
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Tanker 95
Location:
Laytonville
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6273
Captain / Total hours on type:
1912.00
Circumstances:
While completing a low pass during a fire fighting mission, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Collision with trees and subsequent crash during low pass after the pilot misjudged distance, speed and altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- High obstructions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman CS2F-1 Tracker in Castlegar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
C-GHQZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Castlegar - Castlegar
MSN:
036
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Tanker 63
Location:
Castlegar-West Kootenay
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a demo flight at Castlegar Airport when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Grumman S-2E Tracker in Gimhae: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
149868
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gimhae - Gimhae
MSN:
143
YOM:
1957
Location:
Gimhae
South Gyeongsang (경상남도)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight at Gimhae Airport. On final approach, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed few hundred meters short of runway. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach following an engine failure for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Grumman CS-2F-3 Tracker into Whitewater Lake

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
12179
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Fire fighting
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
North Bay - Winnipeg
MSN:
DH78
YOM:
1966
Location:
Sudbury
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from North Bay to Winnipeg, the aircraft was ditched into Whitewater Lake, about 11 km northwest of Sudbury. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Grumman CS-2F-3 Tracker in Bayswater: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
12182
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Shearwater - Shearwater
MSN:
DH81
YOM:
1966
Location:
Bayswater
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Bayswater while completing a local training mission out from Shearwater AFB. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Grumman S-2 Tracker near Gimhae: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
133256
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
227
YOM:
1957
Location:
Gimhae
South Gyeongsang (경상남도)
Country:
South Korea
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Struck a mountain near Gimhae while completing a training mission in poor weather conditions. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Grumman S-2F-1 Tracker in Naples: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
MM144711
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sorrento - Naples
MSN:
672
YOM:
1958
Location:
Naples
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching Naples-Capodichino Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of Mt Camaldoli located about 7 km short of runway 06 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Orazio Carbone,
Lt Gianfranco Aquili,
Lt Michelangelo Abbondante,
Lt Gaspare Aladino.

Crash of a Grumman S-2F-3S Tracker off the Jervis Bay

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1975 at 0325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
N12-153608
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
HMAS Melbourne - HMAS Melbourne
MSN:
340C
YOM:
1957
Location:
Jervis Bay
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Tracker N12-153608 was catapulted from the carrier at 2200 hours on 9 February 1975 to carry out an anti-submarine warfare close support task. The night was unusually dark with no visible horizon so that approximately three hours of the flight were spent in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). At 0323 hours the following morning, the aircraft attempted a routine landing using the mirror landing system as an approach aid. In the days preceding the accident, the mirror setting had been changed from an approach slope of 4° to 4.5° but the pilot had not been informed of this. In consequence, the approach was slightly high and fast, the aircraft failed to pick up an arrester wire, an event known as a "bolter", and it subsequently crashed into the sea approximately ten seconds later. All four crew members managed to escape from the sinking aircraft and were rescued uninjured. Accident occurred off the Jervis Bay, in the Tasman Sea.
Source: Phil Thompson
Probable cause:
Applied Report 78 concluded that the most probable cause of the accident was that the pilot was affected by unrecognized disorientation associated with somatogravic illusion and flew the aircraft into the sea. Factors thought to have contributed were:
a. the exceptionally dark night,
b. the pilot's unawareness of the change of settings to the mirror landing aid,
c. the pilot's lack of any previous bolter experience,
d. the need to monitor engine instruments instead of the VGI as the aircraft was rotated.
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