United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947)

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

March - March

MSN:

17277

YOM:

1956

Location:

March AFB

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Conway: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 8, 1978 at 2300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

64-0532

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Little Rock - Little Rock

MSN:

4021

YOM:

1964

Location:

Conway

Arkansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Little Rock-Jacksonville AFB for a training mission. While flying by night in poor weather conditions, the four engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Conway, about 20 miles northwest of the airbase. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Sparrevohn: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1978 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

63-7766

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Elmendorf - Sparrevohn

MSN:

3832

YOM:

1963

Location:

Sparrevohn

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Sparrevohn Airfield, the four engine airplane crashed few hundred yards short of runway. It was destroyed upon impact, killing all seven occupants.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules at Bicycle Lake AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

63-7787

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bicycle Lake - Bicycle Lake

MSN:

3854

YOM:

1963

Location:

Bicycle Lake AFB

California

Country:

Region:

Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Bicycle Lake AFB. On final approach, the airplane stalled and crashed. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.

Crash of a Lockheed RC-121T Super Constellation in Keflavik

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1978 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

55-0121

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Southern Peninsula (Suðurnes)

MSN:

4394

YOM:

1956

Location:

Keflavik

Country:

Iceland

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taxiing at Keflavik Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly, causing the propellers of both left engine to struck the ground as well. A fuel tank was punctured and a fire erupted. All 17 occupants were able to evacuate safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left main gear due to corrosion.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123K Provider at Westover AFB

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

54-0707

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20156

YOM:

1954

Location:

Westover AFB

Massachusetts

Country:

Region:

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew contacted ATC and declared an emergency following an in-flight fire. The pilot-in-command diverted to Westover AFB and the airplane landed hard and came to rest in flames. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire of unknown origin.

Crash of a Boeing EC-135K Stratotanker near Kirtland AFB: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1977 at 2348 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

62-3536

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Refuelling

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kirkland - Nellis

MSN:

18519

YOM:

1963

Location:

Kirtland AFB

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

7307

Circumstances:

En route from Kirtland AFB to Nellis AFB, the four engine airplane crashed less than three minutes after a night takeoff in a mountainous area located in the Manzano Mountain Range, about 5 miles east of Kirtland AFB. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 20 occupants were killed. After takeoff from runway 08, ATC informed the crew about an insufficient altitude and instructed the crew to turn to the right and gain height. Shortly later, at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the airplane struck the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain, less than 30 feet below the summit.

Probable cause:

No technical deficiencies were reported on instruments. No structural failure occurred and there was no failure of the electrical system. It is believed that the flying crew neglected the departure procedures due to an intense fatigue and failed to follow the departure and climb track. Investigations revealed that the aircraft rolled to the right to an angle of 30°, causing the right wing tip to struck the ground. The engine n°4 was torn off and the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Beale AFB

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1977 at 0345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

58-0101

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Beale - Beale

MSN:

17846/316

YOM:

1959

Location:

Beale AFB

California

Country:

Region:

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

7821

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a night training mission at Beale AFB consisting of touch-and-goes. After touchdown, the airplane collided with cattle roaming on runway. Decision to abort was taken but unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in flames. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed. Five cattle were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that a fence was broken and six cattle walked through and on to the main runway. Due to limited visibility caused by night, pilots and ATC failed to see the animals.

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 Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB

Schedule:

Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer - Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer

MSN:

464404

YOM:

1960

Location:

Michigan

Country:

Region: