Country
Crash of a Boeing KC-97G Stratotanker near Suez: 7 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 17, 1971
Operator:
Registration:
4X-FPR/033
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16714
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While conducting a survey flight, the airplane was shot down by an Egyptian missile after it penetrated the Egyptian airspace. It crashed in a desert area located near Suez. A crew member survived while seven others were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.
Crash of a Boeing KC-97G Stratotanker in Tel Aviv: 2 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 30, 1970 at 0255 LT
Operator:
Registration:
4X-FPS/037
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tel Aviv-Tel Aviv
MSN:
16658
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll from runway 30 at Tel Aviv-Lod Airport by night, just before V1 speed, the crew saw an Israel Air Force Boeing KC-97G Stratotanker that was towed across the active runway. The pilot-in-command initiated an immediate takeoff when the left wing struck the Stratotanker. On impact, both airplanes caught fire and exploded. While all three crew members on board the 707 survived, both technicians on board the KC-97 were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that ATC cleared the mechanics of KC-97 to cross the active runway when they had just allowed the TWA crew to take off from the same runway. It was determined that the time elapsed between both clearances was too short and that ATC failed to pay sufficient attention to potential traffic. Lack of coordination and poor visibility due to the night were considered as contributing factors.
Crash of a Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker in Milwaukee: 4 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 29, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
52-0904
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Key West – Milwaukee
MSN:
16598
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The approach to Milwaukee-General Billy Mitchell Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions with clouds down to 200 feet and an horizontal visibility limited to half a mile. On final, the four engine aircraft was too low, struck the ground and crashed in flames half a mile short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and seven occupants were injured while four others were killed.
Crash of a Boeing KC-97G-23-BO Stratotanker in Stephenville: 5 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 19, 1964 at 0330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
52-0907
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stephenville - Stephenville
MSN:
16601
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Stephenville-Ernest Harmon Airport. Following several circuits, the crew started a night approach to runway 09 with a tailwind component. Apparently due to a wrong approach configuration, the airplane landed too far down the runway. After touchdown, the pilot feathered the propeller on two engines but the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, struck several approach lights and eventually came to rest in a pond located short of runway 27 threshold. All five crew members were killed.
Crash of a Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker in Fort Worth: 4 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 18, 1964 at 1755 LT
Operator:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort Worth - Fort Worth
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was carrying a crew of 11 who was completing a local training flight at Fort Worth-Greater Southwest Airport on behalf of the Air National Guard. They were on a four hour training flight, making touch and go landings. Four such landings were completed without incident. During the fifth approach, the airplane was too low, struck an embankment short of runway, broke up, skidded on the runway and burst into flames. Four crew members were killed while seven others were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Crew:
Maj Henry C. Smyth,
M/Sgt Roy R Sypert, †
M/Sgt Robert E. Weeks, †
T/Sgt Emil J. Trojacek, †
S/Sgt Charles W. Elmore, †
Maj Charles D. Foran,
Maj Charles S. Chester,
Cpt James W. Kumpf,
1st Lt Richard Yeates,
M/Sgt Frank D. Hutchinson,
M/Sgt Hoyt E. Moore.
Crew:
Maj Henry C. Smyth,
M/Sgt Roy R Sypert, †
M/Sgt Robert E. Weeks, †
T/Sgt Emil J. Trojacek, †
S/Sgt Charles W. Elmore, †
Maj Charles D. Foran,
Maj Charles S. Chester,
Cpt James W. Kumpf,
1st Lt Richard Yeates,
M/Sgt Frank D. Hutchinson,
M/Sgt Hoyt E. Moore.
Crash of a Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker at Pease AFB: 5 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 5, 1964
Operator:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pease - Pease
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Five Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker planes were scheduled to take off from Pease AFB as part of an airborne refueling training mission. The first three took off successfully, however the forth aircraft crashed and exploded on take off, scattering debris across the Pease golf course, and nearby Route 101. All five crewmen aboard were killed. Two civilians, a mother and her daughter, were slightly burned when the accident occurred. They had been sitting in a car on Route 101 watching the aircraft take off.
Crew (100th Air Refueling Squadron):
Cpt Robert L. Thompson, pilot,
Cpt Michael P. Valavon, copilot,
1st Lt Larry C. Dennis, navigator,
S/Sgt Gerald W. Schulz, boom operator,
S/Sgt Richard E. Towle, flight engineer.
Crew (100th Air Refueling Squadron):
Cpt Robert L. Thompson, pilot,
Cpt Michael P. Valavon, copilot,
1st Lt Larry C. Dennis, navigator,
S/Sgt Gerald W. Schulz, boom operator,
S/Sgt Richard E. Towle, flight engineer.
