Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-100-LO Orion at Barbers Point NAS

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
154591
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
185-5272
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the four engine airplane made a wheels up landing at Barbers Point NAS. All six crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3C-130-LO Orion in Pago Pago: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
158213
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Pago Pago
MSN:
185-5558
YOM:
1971
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane was taking part in Samoa's Flag Day celebration. It was dropping skydivers near the reviewing area. During the second run, the airplane clipped a mile-long tramway line running across Pago Pago Harbor to Mount Alava. Part of the wing separated and the airplane crashed in flames into an area in front of the two-storey Rainmaker Hotel. All six occupants as well as two people on the ground were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-105-LO Orion off Cubi Point NAS: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
154596
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cubi Point - Cubi Point
MSN:
185-5277
YOM:
1968
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Cubi Point NAS on a flight over the Pacific Ocean consisting on a tracking mission of the Soviet ship christened 'Minsk'. About five minutes after takeoff, while climbing to an altitude of 5,900 feet, the engine n°4 exploded. Propeller blades detached and the engine caught fire. Shortly later, the engine n°3 oversped and due to an excessive temperature, the crew decided to shut it down and to feather its propeller. In coordination with Cubi Point Tower, the crew initiated a turn and started the descent back to Cubi Point NAS. Despite the airplane banked right to an angle of 60° and nosed down to 15°, the pilot was able to continue the descent but eventually reduced the power on both left engine to ditch the aircraft. In a nose-down attitude (3 to 5° pitch down), the airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the sea about 1,400 meters short of runway threshold and sank quickly. Ten occupants were seriously injured while five others were killed. The wreckage was later recovered.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3C-170-LO Orion in the Pacific Ocean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1978 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
159892
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Adak - Adak
MSN:
285-5643
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
Alfa Fox 586
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Adak Airport on a maritime patrol flight over the north Pacific Ocean under callsign 'Alfa Fox 586'. En route, the engine n°1 oversped and the crew was unable to feather its propeller. A lack of oil caused the engine to catch fire and the crew decided to ditch the airplane about 370 km south of Attu Island. Five occupants were killed while 10 others were rescued by the crew of a Soviet trawler.
Probable cause:
Failure and fire of the engine n°1 for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-75-LO Orion in Poland: 8 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1978 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
152757
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brunswick - Trenton
MSN:
185-5199
YOM:
1966
Location:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Brunswick NAS, Maine, at 1205LT on a flight to Trenton, Ontario, where it was dispatched to an airshow. While climbing, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with stormy weather when the engine n°1 went in whirl mode and detached. 11 feet of the left wing separated and struck the left horizontal stabilizer that was torn off as well. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and partially disintegrated before crashing near Poland. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Francis William Dupont Jr.,
Lt Jg Donald Edward Merz,
Lt Jg George D. Nuttelman,
Lt Jg Ernest A. Smith,
Aw2 James Allen Piepkorn,
Awan Paul G. Schulz,
Ad3 Robert Lewis Phillips Jr.,
Adc Larry Miller.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the engine went into a whirl mode which corresponds to a low frequency vibration in the engine mounts that can cause the separation of the engine in flight. It is believed that weather turbulences may affect the proper functioning of the engine.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-65-LO Orion off Lajes: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
152724
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lajes - Lajes
MSN:
185-5164
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was completing a training mission out from Lajes when it crashed under unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean, about 32 km northeast of Lajes. Few debris were found floating on water and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt David G. Schwerstein,
Lt Michael E. Hayes,
Ltjg Michael Dziubak,
Ad1 Robert L. Hasselbacher,
Ad1 Randolph L. Affield,
Ao3 Robert J. Elmore,
At3 Weslie Donald Putnam.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-45-LO Orion at Jacksonville NAS

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
151381
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jacksonville - Jacksonville
MSN:
185-5094
YOM:
1964
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful patrol flight, the crew returned to Jacksonville-Towers Field and the airplane completed a belly landing before coming to rest. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3B-80-LO Orion on Hierro Island: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1977 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
153428
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lajes - Lajes
MSN:
185-5225
YOM:
1967
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Lajes Airport, Azores Islands, at 0836LT on a maritime patrol flight. About two hours later, the crew reported his position and that all went well on board. This was the last radio transmission. At 1120LT, while cruising at an altitude of 2,300 feet in a limited visibility due to foggy conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain (5,200 feet high) at a speed pof 220 knots and crashed. The wreckage was found in a wooded area located near la Frontera, in the center of the island. At the time of the accident, three engines were operating while the engine n°1 was shutdown for loiter.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The crew consumed alcohol until 2 o'clock in the morning,
- The crew started the mission without sufficient rest time,
- Failure of the authority to implement an effective aircrew surveillance program,
- Crew complacency for non adhering to sound navigation procedures,
- The crew was not properly briefed prior to takeoff and was probably not aware of the presence of Hierro Island,
- Poor visibility due to foggy conditions and rain falls.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-50-LO Orion in Jerez de la Frontera: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P.3-2/221-21
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Jerez de la Frontera - Jerez de la Frontera
MSN:
185-5119
YOM:
1965
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Jerez de la Frontera Airport following a night training mission when the airplane crashed on final approach for unknown reasons. Four crew members were injured while six others were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3C-125-LO Orion at Moffett AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1973 at 1450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
157332
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moffett - Moffett
MSN:
185-5547
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a local training flight with a crew of six on board. At a same time was approaching to Moffett AFB a NASA Convair CV-990-30A-5 registered N711NA that was returning to Moffett following a test flight over the Monterey Bay with eight scientists and a crew of three on board. Following an uneventful mission, the crew of the Convair started the approach and was cleared to land on runway 32R while seven miles out. After been cleared, the Orion's crew informed ATC he was joining the runway 32L approach path when the controller cleared the crew of the Convair to land at runway 32L. Shortly later, at an altitude of about 300 feet, the nose gear of the Convair struck the top of the Orion's tail. Both airplanes went out of control and crashed in flames on the Sunnyvale golf course located about 0,3 mile short of runway threshold. A crew member from the Orion was seriously injured while all 16 other occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the consequence of several errors on part of the approach controller. He firstly cleared the Convair's crew to land on runway 32R and the Orion's crew to land on runway 32L. But during the approach, after the Orion's crew confirmed he was joining the runway 32L approach path, the controller cleared the crew of the Convair to land on the same runway 32L. For reasons undetermined, the Convair's crew did not ask any question about this runway change. Also, none of the crew was able to see and avoid each other.