Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

58-0127

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Castle - Castle

MSN:

17872/342

YOM:

1959

Location:

Castle AFB

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

8046

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Castle AFB, consisting of touch-and-go maneuvers. Upon touchdown, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured.

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:

Flight Type:

Refuelling

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kirkland - Nellis

MSN:

18519

YOM:

1963

Location:

Kirtland AFB

New Mexico

Country:

Region:

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:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

58-0101

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Beale - Beale

MSN:

17846/316

YOM:

1959

Location:

Beale AFB

California

Country:

Region:

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 KC-135A-BN Stratotanker near Alpena: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1976 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

61-0296

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer - Oscoda-Wurtsmith

MSN:

18203/518

YOM:

1962

Location:

Alpena

Michigan

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6109

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane departed Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB in the early morning on a flight to Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport. En route, the partially disintegrated in the air, entered a dive and crashed in a swampy area located 12,5 miles southwest of Alpena. 15 occupants were killed while five others were rescued.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but the assumption that the aircraft partially disintegrated in the air following a possible cabin pressurization problem was not ruled out.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Cabanillas del Campo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

60-0368

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Mildenhall - Madrid

MSN:

18143/482

YOM:

1961

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

5481

Circumstances:

While descending to Torrejón Airbase by night and limited visibility, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in Cabanillas del Campo, about 22 km northeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN near Eielson AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1975

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

60-0354

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Eielson - Eielson

MSN:

18129/468

YOM:

1961

Location:

Eielson AFB

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6594

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Eielson AFB, while climbing, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage when the airplane went out of control and crashed on a frozen lake located five miles south of the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. They were involved in a local training mission.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at McConnell AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

57-1500

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Refuelling

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

17571

YOM:

1958

Location:

McConnell AFB (Wichita)

Kansas

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

7434

Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the four engine airplane lost height and crashed in flames about 0.4 miles past the runway end. Five crew members were seriously injured while two others were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control following an engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanger in Columbus: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

63-7989

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Columbus-Rickenbacker (Lockbourne AFB)

Schedule:

Columbus - Columbus

MSN:

18606/645

YOM:

1963

Location:

Ohio

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a training mission and was taxing from an unlit ramp towards the runway when it collided with a second USAF KC-135 registered 63-7980. The airplane continued for about 200 yards before coming to rest in flames on a grassy area. Three crew members were injured while two others were killed. The aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Boeing C-135F Stratotanker off Hao Island: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1972 at 0510 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

38473/F-UKCD

Flight Phase: