Crash of a Boeing B-52G-110-BW Stratofortress at Griffiss AFB

Date & Time: May 8, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-2574
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Griffiss - Griffiss
MSN:
464337
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While in a low level rout one of the engines on the left side of the aircraft malfunctioned and became uncontrollable and was shut down. Hours later on final approach to Griffiss, in a driving rainstorm at night, the copilot, following the checklist turned on the starter switches for all the engines including the one that had been shut down. The shutdown engine that was now wind milling somewhere in the descent reignited and started to increase to max power. The pilots were unaware of this. As the aircraft flared out over the runway with the engine heading toward max power and the landing gear barely touching the ground the aircraft was unable to slow down to engage the brakes. The drag shut was released but failed to deploy. Unable to stop the pilot elected to go-around and increased power…but then made the decision there was not enough runways remaining and cut back the power and announced to the crew that they were going of off the end of the runway. The impact resulted in the aircraft breaking in half just behind the crew compartment and skidding down the embankment with the outboard run-away engine still running as the gear, and AGM 28 Missiles were sheared off. The Boeing reprehensive stated that most likely the only reason the aircraft did not explode on impact was due to the mud caused by the heavy rain. All crew members survived.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
The official cause of the accident was listed as hydroplaning.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-80-BO Stratofortress at McCoy AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1972 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0625
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
McCoy - McCoy
MSN:
17308
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
SIR 21
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at McCoy AFB, Orlando, Florida. En route, a fire erupted on engine n°7 and the captain decided to return to McCoy AFB for an emergency landing. On final approach to runway 18R, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames onto several houses located one mile north of the airfield. The aircraft and four houses were totally destroyed and all seven crew members were killed. On ground, eight people were seriously injured, among them seven children. Three days after the accident, Anthony Ellington aged 10 died from his injuries.
Crew:
Cpt Wendell W. Campbell, pilot,
Cpt Barry E. Applebee, copilot,
1st Lt Robert Heatherly, navigator,
Lt Col George P. Gamache, navigator,
Maj James J. Hammons,
Maj William E. Kesler,
M/Sgt Allen H. Murray.
Probable cause:
Engine failure and fire for unknown reason.

Crash of a Boeing B-52C-45-BO Stratofortress off Charlevoix: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
54-2666
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Westover - Westover
MSN:
17161
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While conducting a low-level route at night (training mission from Westover AFB), the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into Lake Michigan off Charlevoix, Michigan. Few debris were found but not the wreckage. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj Gerald W. Black, pilot,
1st Lt Dennis Ferguson, copilot,
Lt Col John M. Somonfy Jr., navigator,
Lt Col William Lemmon, navigator,
Cpt John E. Weaver, navigator,
Cpt Joel G. Hirsh, navigator,
Maj Donald F. Rosseau, EWO,
1st Lt Douglas Bachman, EWO,
T/Sgt Jerry M. Achey, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

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

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1970 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0089
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ellsworth - Ellsworth
MSN:
17205
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The B52 of the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, crashed and was destroyed after a landing accident. It caught fire and skidded into a brick storage building containing six 25,000 gallon tanks (150,000 total) of jet fuel. The firemen did a fantastic job in saving the crew member (the navigator) who was trapped inside the nose section that had broken off for almost an hour before being freed. The fire truck rammed the gun turret, breaking it off and freeing the tail gunner. Crew:
Cpt Wesley G. Swann, pilot,
Cpt Gary C. Christensen, copilot,
Maj Ralph P. Smiley, radar navigator,
Cpt Curtis L. Christy, navigator,
1Lt James L. Welch, electronic warfare officer,
S/Sgt Charles E. Adkins, gunner,
Maj Harry D. Meehan, instructor navigator,
Lt Col Paul R. Houser, 28th Bomb Wing Chief of Operations,
A1C Randall Hart, avionics maintenance.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Boeing B-52F-105-BO Stratofortress at Castle AFB

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0041
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
17435
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-52F-70-BW Stratofortress at Castle AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1969 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0172
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
464161
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Castle AFB, completing touch and go manoeuvres. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane pitch up. The tail stalled and the airplane crashed onto the runway. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard F. Beattie, pilot,
Maj Boyd P. Beyer, navigator,
Maj Doyal L. Keller, navigator,
Cpt Wilber D. Wright, student,
1st Lt Frank D. Harriman, student,
2nd Lt Steven D. Lack, student.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-105-BW Stratofortress at Loring AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0215
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
464283
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Loring AFB, while in initial climb, the crew encountered serious technical problems. Two members of the crew ejected and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion some 2-3 miles north of the airbase. All seven crew members were killed. Unfortunately, the parachutes of those members who ejected opened too late.
Crew:
Maj Nils O. A. Oxehufwud, pilot,
Cpt William N. Payne, copilot,
Cpt Theodore A. Burbank, navigator,
Maj Robert M. Murray, EWO,
Lt Col Robert C. Smith, radio navigator,
M/Sgt Earl J. Barnes, air gunner,
Col Homer C. Bell Jr., observer.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the loss of control was the consequence of a total failure of all electrical power or an issue with the water injection system was not ruled out.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-80-BO Stratofortress at Andersen AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0630
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
17313
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the right wing separated. The airplane crashed back onto the runway, went out of control and crashed in flames. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Edward William Wyatt, pilot,
Cpt John Anthony Albasio, copilot,
Cpt Donald Joseph Maccio, navigator,
Cpt Edward Anthony Miskowski, radio navigator,
1st/Lt Gary Paul Leach, EWO,
T/Sgt Clinton Eugene Tibbetts, air gunner.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the right wing separated from the fuselage due to a structural failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-25-BW Stratofortress at U-Tapao NAS

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-0676
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
464023
YOM:
1955
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from U-Tapao NAS in heavy rain falls on an Arc Light mission, the pilot's and copilot's airspeed indicators gave different readings. The captain decided to abort the takeoff procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance and overran runway 36, lost its landing gear and came to rest in flames. All six crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Boeing B-52D-75-DO Stratofortress off Andersen AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0593
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
17276
YOM:
1956
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Andersen AFB, while climbing to a low height, the pilot-in-command initiated a turn to the right when control was lost. The airplane crashed into the sea few dozen yards offshore and disintegrated on impact. All six crew members were killed. They were enroute to Vietnam.
Crew:
Cpt Larry Ivan Broadhead, pilot,
1st Lt Maurice Edward Lundy, copilot,
Cpt James L. Sipes, navigator,
Cpt Russell L. Platt, radio navigator,
1st Lt Thomas R. McCormick, EWO,
M/Sgt Harold B. Deel, air gunner.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the loss of control was the consequence of a gyrocompas intermittent malfunction was not ruled out as well as a structural failure.