Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Minot AFB: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1968 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
58-0026
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Minot - Glasgow
MSN:
17771/241
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Aircraft flight hours:
4996
Circumstances:
The departure from Minot AFB to Glasgow was attempted in a snowstorm. At liftoff, the four engine airplane went out of control and crashed in flames within the runway edge. The airplane was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed, among them Maj Gen Charles M. Eisenhart who was completing a troop's check.
Probable cause:
It is believe the pilot-in-command over-rotated for unknown reason.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker at Offutt AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-1465
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Offutt - Offutt
MSN:
17953
YOM:
1960
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After liftoff at Offutt AFB, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed in flames about a mile past the runway end. A crew member was killed while four others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command started the rotation prematurely while the aircraft's speed was insufficient.

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

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1967 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3613
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Hickam - Fairchild
MSN:
17362
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While descending to Fairchild AFB on a flight from Hickam Field, Hawaii, the airplane was too low and the struck the slope of Mt Shadow (4,337 feet high) located 40 miles northwest of Fairchild AFB. The airplane struck trees and disintegrated on impact, killing all nine crew members.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Kadena AFB: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1966 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-1444
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kadena - Yokota
MSN:
17515
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
3387
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a special flight from Kadena AFB to Yokota AFB, carrying a spare engine to repair another KC-135 grounded at Yokota Airbase. During the takeoff roll, after a course of 2,100 meters, the crew started the rotation when the airplane stalled and struck the runway surface before taking off again. Once it reached the height of 100 feet, it stalled again and crashed in a huge explosion 100 meters to the left of the extended centerline and about 150 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed as well as one motorist on the ground.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was high at the time of the accident and the pilot-in-command started the rotation prematurely, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash due to an insufficient takeoff speed.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Amarillo: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1966 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-1424
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Amarillo - Amarillo
MSN:
17495
YOM:
1958
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Aircraft flight hours:
3482
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Amarillo Airport following a four-hour refueling mission. On final approach, the aircraft was unstable and banked left and right when it stalled and crashed in flames few dozen yards short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Oscillating and unstable approach for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Palomares: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1966 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
61-0273
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Morón - Morón
MSN:
18180
YOM:
1961
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
1947
Circumstances:
Collided in midair with a USAF Boeing B-52 registered 58-0256 while performing a refueling mission during 'Operation Chrome Dome'. Crashed near Palomares, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Boeing C-135A-BN Stratotanker at El Toro AFB: 84 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1965 at 0146 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0373
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
McGuire - El Toro - Hickam - Kadena
MSN:
18148
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
72
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
84
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from McGuire AFB to Kadena, Okinawa, with intermediate stops at El Toro AFB and Hickam AFB, Honolulu. The departure from El Toro AFB was completed by night and marginal weather conditions. One minute after liftoff, during initial climb at an altitude of about 1,150 feet, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of the Loma Hill located three miles from the airfield. The aircraft struck the hill 150 feet below the summit and disintegrated on impact. None of 84 occupants survived the crash. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds, light drizzle and night.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew performed a straight-in climb after takeoff instead of making a turn to the left as prescribed in the published departure procedures of the El Toro AFB.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Walker AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1965 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-8042
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Walker - Walker
MSN:
18659
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is reported the loss of control was caused by the failure of the electric system.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker into the Atlantic Ocean: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-8882
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
18730/713
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Dow AFB on a refueling mission over the Atlantic. While completing a refueling mission with a USAF Boeing B-47E-25-DT Stratojet registered 52-0171, both aircraft collided and crashed into the sea some 660 km southeast of Goose Bay, Newfoundland. All eight occupant in both aircraft were killed. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unclear.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Wichita: 30 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1965 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-1442
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
McConnell - McConnell
MSN:
17513
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
501
Location:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from McConnell AFB, while climbing to a height of 500-700 feet, the captain sent a first distress call while the aircraft experienced a large amount of yaw. The crew elected to return for a safe landing and began to dump large quantities of fuel from the aircraft's refueling tanks. Shortly after this, the aircraft made a hard bank to the left, and began to enter a roll. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed at the intersection of Piatt and 20th Street, just three minutes after takeoff, some 7 miles north-northwest of the airbase. The aerial refueling aircraft was loaded with 31,000 US gallons of jet fuel and the crash resulted in a large explosion and subsequent fire, which engulfed dozens of homes. The accident killed all seven crew members on board the aircraft and 23 people on the ground. In addition, 27 other people on the ground sustained injuries, three of which were serious. It was reported that the crew entry door was jettisoned and a B-52 Stratofortress bomber, which took off prior to the KC-135, may have blown a detached drag chute from an F-105 Thunderchief against the departing aircraft.
Probable cause:
Ten months after the accident, the U.S. Air Force issued an official accident report which stated that the crash was caused by "a rudder control system malfunction" which was impossible for the crew to overcome.