Boeing C-135 Stratolifter | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed Pago Pago on a flight to Hickam Field, Honolulu, taking part to an observation mission of the French atmospheric nuclear tests in the Pacific. While flying in good weather conditions at an altitude of 33,000 feet and at a speed of 870 km/h, a crew member contacted ATC but the content of the message was inaudible. Five minutes later, the airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Pacific Ocean some 1,100 km southwest of Hawaii. Few debris were found floating on water and none of the 24 occupants survived the crash.
Occupants:
Donald E. Ashland,
Cpt Byron C. Burnett,
Rola F. Blanchard,
John P. Cahill,
Thomas R. Connor,
Charles V. Dito,
1st Lt James M. Gilbert,
Dean L. Hoar,
S/Sgt Kenneth Steven Kowal,
Maj John R. McGinn,
T/Sgt Hubert Miles Jr.,
Allen Moriffette,
Maj William Edward Page Jr.,
David Penney,
Lt Col Victor John Reinhart,
Cpt Perry Thomas Rose,
Col Billy L. Skipworth,
Edward M. Slagel,
Anthony J. Theriault,
John B. Tumas,
Maj william Herman Unsderfer Jr.,
Maj Joseph B. William,
S/Sgt Elno Roe Weimer.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the aircraft was intact until impact with water surface. Also, it is believed that the recent technical modification did not have any incidence with the accident. Few days prior to the mishap, the aircraft was equipped with 11 additional portholes and a radome.

Crash of a Boeing C-135B stratolifter at Clark AFB: 80 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1964 at 1920 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing C-135 Stratolifter

Operator:

Registration:

61-0332

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Travis – Hickam – Clark

MSN:

18239

YOM:

1962

Location:

Clark AFB (Angeles City)

Pampanga

Country:

Philippines

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a flight from Travis AFB to Clark AFB with an intermediate stop at Hickam Field, Honolulu, carrying US soldiers and their family members. While descending to Clark AFB runway 02, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds, rain falls and a limited visibility to one mile. Five km from the runway threshold, the crew passed below the glide and the ATC in charge of the approach sent three warnings to the crew. Despite this, the pilot-in-command continued the approach and at three km from the runway threshold, the crew was instructed to go around. As the captain had the runway in sight, he neglected this order and decided to continue the approach, changed his frequency and contacted the tower when he was cleared to land. At a distance of 1,050 meters short of runway threshold, the nose gear struck a fence and the left wing struck the TACAN (Tactical Air navigation) antenna. The airplane stalled, hit the ground and slid for several yards, crossed a road where it struck a taxi and came to rest in flames 600 meters short of runway and 100 meters to the left of the extended centerline. Five crew members, among them both pilots, were injured, while all 74 passengers, five others crew members and the taxi driver were killed. Both taxi's passengers were injured as well.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who decided to continue the approach despite he was instructed by ATC to abandon the approach and to go around. Marginal weather conditions were considered as a contributing factor as well as the lack of ATC coordination as the ATC in charge of the approach instructed the crew to go around and the ATC by the Tower cleared the crew to land.

Crash of a Boeing C-135B-BN Stratolifter in Guantánamo Bay: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1962