Lockheed P-3 Orion

While conducting a Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization check the pilot at controls was allowed to perform his first attempt at shooting an obstacle approach at Whidbey Island NAS. This maneuver was inadequately briefed by the pilot in command during the mission brief. The pilot in command, having great confidence in the pilot at controls, allowed him to conduct this maneuver without prior demonstration. After pushing over for the approach an excessive sink rate developed. Upon determination that the approach was getting dangerous, power was applied and the nose pulled up. Due to the combination of slow approach speed, late and in inadequate power application, the excessive sink rate was not arrested, resulting in a hard landing followed by failure of the starboard wing.

For unknown reasons, the four engine airplane made a wheels up landing at Barbers Point NAS. All six crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The airplane was taking part in Samoa's Flag Day celebration. It was dropping skydivers near the reviewing area. During the second run, the airplane clipped a mile-long tramway line running across Pago Pago Harbor to Mount Alava. Part of the wing separated and the airplane crashed in flames into an area in front of the two-storey Rainmaker Hotel. All six occupants as well as two people on the ground were killed.

The four engine airplane departed Cubi Point NAS on a flight over the Pacific Ocean consisting on a tracking mission of the Soviet ship christened 'Minsk'. About five minutes after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude of 5,900 feet, the engine n°4 exploded. Propeller blades detached and the engine caught fire. Shortly later, the engine n°3 oversped and due to an excessive temperature, the crew decided to shut it down and to feather its propeller. In coordination with Cubi Point Tower, the crew initiated a turn and started the descent back to Cubi Point NAS. Despite the airplane banked right to an angle of 60° and nosed down to 15°, the pilot was able to continue the descent but eventually reduced the power on both left engine to ditch the aircraft. In a nose-down attitude (3 to 5° pitch down), the airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the sea about 1,400 meters short of runway threshold and sank quickly. Ten occupants were seriously injured while five others were killed. The wreckage was later recovered.

The crew departed Adak Airport on a maritime patrol flight over the north Pacific Ocean under callsign 'Alfa Fox 586'. En route, the engine n°1 oversped and the crew was unable to feather its propeller. A lack of oil caused the engine to catch fire and the crew decided to ditch the airplane about 370 km south of Attu Island. Five occupants were killed while 10 others were rescued by the crew of a Soviet trawler.

The four engine airplane departed Brunswick NAS, Maine, at 1205LT on a flight to Trenton, Ontario, where it was dispatched to an airshow. While climbing, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with stormy weather when the engine n°1 went in whirl mode and detached. 11 feet of the left wing separated and struck the left horizontal stabilizer that was torn off as well. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and partially disintegrated before crashing near Poland. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Francis William Dupont Jr.,
Lt Jg Donald Edward Merz,
Lt Jg George D. Nuttelman,
Lt Jg Ernest A. Smith,
Aw2 James Allen Piepkorn,
Awan Paul G. Schulz,
Ad3 Robert Lewis Phillips Jr.,
Adc Larry Miller.

The four engine airplane was completing a training mission out from Lajes when it crashed under unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean, about 32 km northeast of Lajes. Few debris were found floating on water and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt David G. Schwerstein,
Lt Michael E. Hayes,
Ltjg Michael Dziubak,
Ad1 Robert L. Hasselbacher,
Ad1 Randolph L. Affield,
Ao3 Robert J. Elmore,
At3 Weslie Donald Putnam.

Following an uneventful patrol flight, the crew returned to Jacksonville-Towers Field and the airplane completed a belly landing before coming to rest. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The four engine airplane departed Lajes Airport, Azores Islands, at 0836LT on a maritime patrol flight. About two hours later, the crew reported his position and that all went well on board. This was the last radio transmission. At 1120LT, while cruising at an altitude of 2,300 feet in a limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (5,200 feet high) at a speed pof 220 knots and crashed. The wreckage was found in a wooded area located near la Frontera, in the center of the island. At the time of the accident, three engines were operating while the engine n°1 was shutdown for loiter.

The crew was returning to Jerez de la Frontera Airport following a night training mission when the airplane crashed on final approach for unknown reasons. Four crew members were injured while six others were killed.