Zone
Oklahoma

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

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1987
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
60-0330
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Altus AFB - Altus AFB
MSN:
18105
YOM:
1961
Location:
Altus AFB
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
10305
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training mission at Altus AFB. After landing, smoke spread in the cockpit and a fire erupted. The crew immediately stopped the aircraft and the runway and evacuated the cabin safely. There were no injuries while the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that UHF cables which runs near the aft wing root in the fuselage were melted due to an electrical fault. Fuel vapors in the area of the aft body tank ignited.

Crash of a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy in Clinton

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
Operator:
Registration:
68-0227
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Altus - Altus
MSN:
500-0030
YOM:
1970
Location:
Clinton-Regional
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Altus AFB in the day for a refueling training mission. En route, the pilot informed ground about technical problems and decided to divert to Clinton-Sherman Airport. For unknown reason, the crew mistook the airport and landed on runway 17 (4,300 feet long) at Clinton-Regional Airport. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, lost its landing gear and came to rest in a field, broken in three. All five crew members were rescued while the forward section was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
An overheated brake ignited hydraulic fluid in the left aft landing gear well. The fire ignited tires and other components before burning through the keel beam and continuing into the right aft well. This was probably caused by a problem that occurred during taxiing at Altus AFB.

Crash of a Boeing B-52E-85-BO Stratofortress at Altus AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1958 at 2145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
56-0633
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Altus - Altus
MSN:
17316
YOM:
1956
Location:
Altus AFB
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local night training mission at Altus AFB. After several circuits, the crew started a new GCA approach when the pilot-in-command requested climb to altitude for another jet penetration. Problems with stabilizer trim during overshoot caused the aircraft to lose height and to crash about 4 miles north of the airfield. A crew member bailed out and was rescued while eight other occupants were killed.
Crew (816th Air Division):
Maj Byard F. Baker, pilot,
Cpt Melvin Eckstein, †
Maj Willis E. Brady, †
1st Lt Carl D. Mackall, †
1st Lt Doyle Alexander Salley, †
S/Sgt. Thomas Lowry, †
S/Sgt Clarence R. Leger, †
T/Sgt Norman L. Kohlmeyer, †
S/Sgt Harold J. Funnell. †
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