Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-50-LO Orion near Iwakuni AFB: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152144
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Iwakuni - Iwakuni
MSN:
185-5114
YOM:
1965
Location:
Iwakuni AFB
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While returning to Iwakuni Airbase following a maritime patrol flight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and a limited visibility due to snow falls. On descent, at an altitude of 6,200 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Karnegeamori located few km southeast of the airfield. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 12 occupants were killed. For unknown reason, the crew was approaching the airbase at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-40-LO Orion off Tsushima Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
151365
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Iwakuni - Iwakuni
MSN:
185-5078
YOM:
1964
Location:
Tsushima
Kyūshū
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew departed Iwakuni Airbase on a maritime patrol flight. While flying in the vicinity of the Tsushima Island, the four engine aircraft crashed into the sea for unknown reason. All 12 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-60-LO Orion near Battle Creek: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1966 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152172
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Floyd Bennett Field – Glenview – Moffett
MSN:
185-5142
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
PE-05
Location:
Battle Creek
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Floyd Bennett Field Airport in New York on a flight to Moffett Airbase, California, with an intermediate stop at Glenview Airport, Illinois, under call sign PE-05. At 2035LT, while cruising at an altitude of 22,000 feet, the crew informed ATC about his position. Shortly later, the airplane entered a spin, crossed the last cloud layer at an altitude of 3,000 feet in a right turn and struck the ground in a 60° nose down attitude at a speed of 800 km/h. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four crew members were killed. The wreckage was found seven miles northeast of Battle Creek.
Crew:
Lt William E. Xiques, pilot,
Lt John P. Fitzmaurice III, copilot,
ADJ2 Charles J. Lurvey, flight engineer,
ADJ3 Larry W. Battson, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Investigations determined that there was no in-flight fire and no major structural failure had occurred. The plane was only about a year old at the time of the accident. The only clues were unintelligible voice transmissions at 2037 and again at 2039. The voice was masked by extreme high frequency background noise. Despite attempted computer analysis of the voice and an extended accident investigation, the cause was never determined. It was believed that some kind of catastrophic failure had occurred that incapacitated the crew. It was also surmised that it was possible that the windshield failed in-flight under decompression forces causing sound comparable to high velocity air in the cockpit. Not enough of the windshield was recovered to perform an analysis and come to any conclusions about this possibility.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-55-LO Orion into the Pacific Ocean: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1966 at 1925 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152171
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Moffett - Moffett
MSN:
5141
YOM:
1965
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an anti-submarine exercise when control was lost. It crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 187 miles off San Diego. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by the disengagement of the autopilot in flight for undetermined reason.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-45-LO Orion in Hamilton: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
151380
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hamilton - Hamilton
MSN:
185-5093
YOM:
1964
Location:
Hamilton-Kindley Field
All Bermuda
Country:
Bermuda
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Hamilton-Kindley Field Airport. Following few touch-and-go manoeuvres, the pilot-in-command started a new approach when all four engines stopped simultaneously. Due to low speed, the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway threshold. Four passengers were killed while nine other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is reported that the flight engineer mistakenly cut off the wrong fuel switch during the approach. It is believed his capacities and performances were limited due to intoxication.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-25-LO Orion off Cubi Point NAS: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
150508
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cubi Point - Cubi Point
MSN:
185-5034
YOM:
1963
Location:
Subic Bay, Olongapo (Cubi Point NAS)
Bataan
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While on a maritime patrol flight, the airplane caught fire in mid-air, exploded and crashed into the sea off the Cubi Point NAS. All 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire caused by the ignition of magnesium flares.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-40-LO Orion off Argentia: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1964 at 1855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
151362
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Argentia - Argentia
MSN:
5075
YOM:
1964
Location:
Argentia NAS
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew departed Argentia NAS for a training mission over the Atlantic Ocean. While in cruising altitude, a generator failed. Few minutes later, a second generator failed as well and the crew decided to return to Argentia NAS for a safe landing. On final approach in marginal weather conditions, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Bay of Placentia, about 6,5 km off shore. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was reported that a third generator failed during the final approach, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable. The exact cause of the failure of all three generator could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-10-LO Orion into the Atlantic Ocean: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1963 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
149672
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Patuxent River - Patuxent River
MSN:
5013
YOM:
1962
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The crew departed Patuxent River NAS on a night exercise with a US Marine Ship. While cruising at an altitude of 500 feet, the airplane nosed down and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, some 231 miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Few debris and the dead body of the captain were found floating on water. No trace of the rest of the crew was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidence, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, altimeters oscillations could occur in flight and may ba a contributing factor.
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