Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

58-0039

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Madrid - Madrid

MSN:

17784/254

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

5406

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to Madrid-Torrejón AFB following a refuelling mission over the Mediterranean Sea. While descending to Torrejón Airbase, the crew reported his altitude at 17,000 feet on descent when the airplane disappeared from radar screens. The main wreckage and all debris were found in Centenera, about 35 km northeast of the Torrejón Airbase. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all six crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that an in-flight explosion occurred in the n°1 fuel tank, maybe due to a chafing of boost pump wires in conduits.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker off Ching Chuan Kang AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

56-3629

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ching Chuan Kang AFB (Taichung)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Ching Chuan Kang - Ching Chuan Kang

MSN:

17378

YOM:

1958

Location:

Taichung City (臺中市)

Country:

Taiwan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6794

Circumstances:

The aircraft was part of a formation of four Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker engaged in a refuelling mission over South China Sea. Shortly after takeoff from Ching Chuan Kang AFB in Taichung, while in initial climb, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height then stalled and crashed into the sea few miles offshore. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Gene Thomas Wright, pilots +3.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of windshear.

Crash of a Boeing RC-135E into the Bering Sea: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1969 at 1022 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

62-4137

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Shemya - Eielson

MSN:

18477/C43

YOM:

1962

Flight number:

Irene92

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

3350

Circumstances:

The crew departed Shemya Airport, in the Aleutians Islands, bound for Eielson AFB, under call sign Irene 92. At 0936LT, while cruising between the Rats and Andreanof Islands, the copilot informed ATC about vibrations but elected to continue the flight. Few minutes later, the radio contact was lost due to technical problems but ATC was able to follow the plane on screens till 1022LT when it disappeared in the Amchitka passage. SAR operations were conducted for nine days but no trace of the airplane nor the 19 occupants was found. More details on http://www.spyflight.co.uk/Rivet%20Amber.htm

Probable cause:

Due to the lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it was reported that the airplane experienced severe turbulences while completing an observation mission off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. After landing at Shemya AFB, the airplane was inspected for damage. Extensive skin damage to the tail section to include the vertical stabilizer, and areas close to the long wire High Frequency (HF) antenna tail mounts was found. No other external or internal damage that could be visually inspected was discovered, and no damage to the modified sections of the aircraft’s S-Band radome was noted. Over the objection of the maintenance crew, the aircrew was directed to fly the aircraft to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska for additional inspection and repairs as necessary.

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

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

56-3602

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Loring - Loring

MSN:

17351

YOM:

1958

Location:

Loring AFB

Maine

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Loring AFB, the crew encountered technical issues with the water injection system and the captain decided to abort. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, went down an embankment and came to rest in flames, broken in two. All seven occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the water injection system due to frozen water.

Crash of a Boeing RC-135S in Shemya

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1969 at 0030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

59-1491

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Shemya - Shemya

MSN:

17979/394

YOM:

1960

Location:

Shemya

Alaska

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to Shemya following a reconnaissance mission. After touchdown on an icy runway, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest few dozen yards farther. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all 18 occupants were evacuated safely.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker near Ching Chuan Kang AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

61-0301

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ching Chuan Kang AFB (Taichung)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

U-Tapao - Ching Chuan Kang

MSN:

18208

YOM:

1962

Location:

Taichung City (臺中市)

Country:

Taiwan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to his base at Ching Chuan Kang near Taichung, Taiwan, following a refuelling mission over South Vietnam. While cruising by night and in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (7,300 feet high) located about 75 km from Ching Chuan Kang AFB. The wreckage was found 1,500 feet below the summit and all six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN at U-Tapao AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

55-3138

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

U-Tapao - U-Tapao

MSN:

17254

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6999

Circumstances:

While taking off from U-Tapao AFB, the engine number four lost power. The airplane stalled and crashed in flames near the runway end and was destroyed by a post impact fire. All four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of power on engine number four during takeoff for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A on Wake Island: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

55-3133

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

United States Minor Outlying Islands

Schedule:

Andersen - Hickam - Loring

MSN:

17249

YOM:

1957

Location:

Wake Island

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

6681

Circumstances:

En route from Andersen AFB (GUam Island) to Hickam, Honolulu, the crew reported engine problems and the captain decided to divert to Wake Island Airport. On short final, the aircraft was too low and struck approach lights. On impact, the empennage was torn off and the aircraft crashed in flames. Eleven passengers were killed while 45 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine problems in flight.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker on Mt Lassen: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

56-3655

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Castle - Castle

MSN:

17404

YOM:

1958

Location:

Mt Lassen

California

Country:

Region: