Crash of a Boeing B-52H-175-BW Stratofortress at Minot AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
61-0037
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minot - Minot
MSN:
464464
YOM:
1960
Location:
Minot AFB
North Dakota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Minot AFB, while climbing to a height of 200-300 feet, the airplane stalled then crashed in a huge explosion in a field located about a mile away from the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Byron D. Edmonds, pilot,
1st Lt Kenneth A. Kuhn, copilot,
Cpt Gerald J. Walla, navigator,
Cpt James C. Jiles, radar navigator,
Cpt Richard L. Jones, EWO,
T/Sgt Lee A. Gunn, gunner.
Probable cause:
Incorrect trim selection caused the aircraft to pitch up and down then to stall and crash.

Crash of a Boeing B-52H-145-BW Stratofortress near Minot AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1968 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
60-0027
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Minot - Minot
MSN:
464392
YOM:
1960
Location:
Minot AFB
North Dakota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful training mission of seven hours, the crew was returning to Minot AFB, North Dakota. On final approach by night, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. Apparently due to low speed, the airplane stalled when four crew members managed to bail out. The aircraft crashed in an open field located eight miles from the airbase and was destroyed. Two crew members were rescued while four others were killed. The pilot ejected but was hit by a falling hatch after ejection and fatally injured. Sgt Blazina bailed out low and hit the ground before his chute opened.
Those killed were:
Lt Col Poole,
Maj McGuirk,
Sgt Cole,
Sgt Blazina.
Probable cause:
Fuel mismanagement on approach caused multiple flame‑out on engines number 1, 2, 3 and 4. Also, it is believed the approach speed was low at that time, causing the aircraft to stall.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Minot AFB: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1968 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
58-0026
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minot - Glasgow
MSN:
17771/241
YOM:
1959
Location:
Minot AFB
North Dakota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
4996
Circumstances:
The departure from Minot AFB to Glasgow was attempted in a snowstorm. At liftoff, the four engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames within the runway edge. The airplane was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed, among them Maj Gen Charles M. Eisenhart who was completing a troop's check.
Probable cause:
It is believe the pilot-in-command over-rotated for unknown reason.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK Dakota III in Estevan: 21 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1946 at 1020 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
962
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minot - Estevan
MSN:
12544
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
Boxtop62
Location:
Estevan
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
On final approach to Estevan Airport, the captain decided to make a go around for unknown reason. The undercarriage were raised and the aircraft quickly adopted a nose up attitude. Suddenly, it stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 21 occupants were killed. All passengers were returning to Estevan after delivering Fairchild PT-19 Cornell planes to the USAAF based in Minot AFB.
Crew (124th Communications Squadron):
F/Lt Harry H. Cowan,
F/Lt James Stewart Lees,
F/Lt Edward Chester Stewart,
F/O Ned Jordan,
F/O William Albert Perry,
F/O Robert James McIntyre,
LAC Vitantes Luke Kirko,
F/O Raymond Avard Brandser,
F/O Max Thomas,
F/O Leonard Edgar Turtle,
F/O Stephen Pond,
F/Lt Stanley Wright Proctor,
F/Lt Louis Eric John Murphy,
F/Lt Morris Crosby Cuthbert,
F/Lt James Pyle Jesse,
F/Lt Clifford Sommerville Coppin,
F/Lt Lawrence Victor Kirsch,
F/Lt William Jacob Louis Weicker,
F/Lt Robert Cowan McRoberts,
F/Lt Joseph Alphonse Camille Bouchard,
F/Lt William Murdock Jackson.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was caused by a control lock on the starboard elevator that has not been removed before takeoff from Minot AFB.
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