Zone

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-65-BO Stratofortress near Jordan: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1964 at 2255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0108
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Larson - Larson
MSN:
17224
YOM:
1955
Location:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed while on night low‑level mission in Montana. Mission was to make two low-level entry points for training a new navigator and testing ground avoidance equipment. The first entry point was the Flint Rock Oil Burner Run where plane was flying a most level flight path missing the first knoll at 2550' elevation, continued until contacting a second knoll approximately 300' farther on the line of flight where plane disintegrated. The wreckage was found near Jordan, about 60 miles south of Glasgow.
Crew:
Cpt Guido J. Pizzeck Jr., pilot,
Cpt Willis C. Morris, copilot,
Cpt John H. Pulliam, navigator,
Cpt Jerry W. Berendzen, navigator,
1st Lt Daniel C. Woodward, EWO,
1st Lt David L. Harlan, navigator,
T/Sgt Edwin Fonzy Arlington, air gunner.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in the Death Valley National Park: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0340
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Larson - Larson
MSN:
18115
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The KC-135 was engaged in a refueling mission out from Larson AFB, Washington, and was carrying a crew of four. At an altitude of 26,000 feet, following a successful refueling mission of a USAF Republic F-105D-15-RE Thunderchief registered 61-0091, the crew of the KC-135 attempted to leave the area and the pilot-in-command made a turn to the right when the engine number four struck the cockpit window of the Thunderchief. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous area located in the Death Valley National Park. All four crew members on board the KC-135 as well as the pilot of the Thunderchief were killed.
KC-135 crew:
Cpt Thomas F. Dozier, pilot,
1st Lt Erwin W. Boelter Jr., copilot,
1st Lt Ronald D. Williams, navigator,
S/Sgt Robert J. Graves, boom operator.
Thunderchief pilot:
Cpt Leonard F. Reynolds.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the midair collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-60-BO Stratofortress at Larson AFB

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0098
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Larson - Larson
MSN:
17214
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Larson AFB for a refueling mission over Montana. When the B-52 was supposed to be connected with a USAF KC-135, the probe struck the right wing of the B-52 that was pierced. The operation was cancelled and the crew returned to Larson AFB. Upon landing, the right wing failed and the aircraft crashed in flames. All 10 crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II in Binghamton

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1957
Operator:
Registration:
51-5173
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Larson - Binghamton
MSN:
43583
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Binghamton Airport was completed at an insufficient altitude. On short final, the aircraft struck a concrete wall. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft crash landed. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II at Larson AFB

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
51-7272
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
43724
YOM:
1951
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Larson AFB. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II in Larson AFB: 87 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1952 at 0627 LT
Operator:
Registration:
50-0100
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Larson - Kelly
MSN:
43238
YOM:
1950
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
105
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
87
Captain / Total flying hours:
2775
Captain / Total hours on type:
137.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2007
Copilot / Total hours on type:
388
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Korea with veterans on board flying back home for Christmas holidays. On behalf of the Tactical Air Command, the four engine airplane was scheduled to make enroute stops in Larson AFB, Washington, Kelly AFB, Texas, Tennessee and South Carolina with Florida as its final destination. The takeoff from Larson AFB was started in light snow conditions. After liftoff, while climbing to a height of 100 feet, the aircraft banked left, causing the left wing to hit the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion in a field located past the runway end. Five crew members and 82 passengers were killed while 28 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed. At the time it occurred, this accident was the deadliest in aviation history.
Crew list and details:
http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/topics/airplane_crashes/globemaster_larson/p_globemaster.htm
Probable cause:
It was determined that the cause of the accident was the failure of the pilot to remove the rudder and elevator locking pin prior to take off. For undetermined reason, the crew failed to follow the pre-departure checklist.