Zone
Ground explosion of a Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker at Eielson AFB: 2 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 20, 1989 at 1500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
57-1481
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eielson - Eielson
MSN:
17552
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful refueling mission, the crew returned to Eielson AFB. After landing, the aircraft was parked on the apron and when the crew shut down the engine, an explosion occurred. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire and two crew members were killed while five others were rescued.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a fuel pump overheated, causing an explosion after contacting fuel vapor.
Crash of a Boeing RC-135T near Valdez: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 25, 1985
Operator:
Registration:
55-3121
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Eielson - Valdez - Eielson
MSN:
17237
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Mary 24
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
15072
Circumstances:
The crew departed Eielson AFB southeast of Fairbanks on a training mission in the region of Valdez under callsign Mary 24. Following two successful approaches under MLS procedure, the crew started a third approach about four miles north of the prescribed MLS inbound course. While descending too low in poor visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was found. The wreckage was recovered by walkers on August 2, 1985.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the crew had used an approach procedure certified for de Havilland Canada DHC-7, a STOL airplane. The glide slope and missed approach for this airplane are significantly steeper than those for an RC-135 jet.
Crash of a Boeing RC-135S Cobra Ball II in Shemya: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 15, 1981 at 2245 LT
Operator:
Registration:
61-2664
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Eielson - Shemya
MSN:
18340/C20
YOM:
1962
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
18638
Circumstances:
The approach to Shemya Airport was initiated by night and poor weather conditions with turbulences, fog and snow falls. On final, the crew failed to realize he was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. Six occupants were killed while 18 others were rescued.
Those killed were:
Maj William R. Bennett,
Cpt Larry A. Mayfield,
1st Lt Loren O. Ginter,
M/Sgt Stephen L. Kish,
S/Sgt Steven C. Balcer,
S/Sgt Harry L. Parsons III.
Those killed were:
Maj William R. Bennett,
Cpt Larry A. Mayfield,
1st Lt Loren O. Ginter,
M/Sgt Stephen L. Kish,
S/Sgt Steven C. Balcer,
S/Sgt Harry L. Parsons III.
Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN near Eielson AFB: 4 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 7, 1975
Operator:
Registration:
60-0354
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Eielson - Eielson
MSN:
18129/468
YOM:
1961
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
6594
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Eielson AFB, while climbing, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage when the airplane went out of control and crashed on a frozen lake located five miles south of the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. They were involved in a local training mission.
Crash of a Boeing RC-135E into the Bering Sea: 19 killed
Date & Time:
Jun 5, 1969 at 1022 LT
Operator:
Registration:
62-4137
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shemya - Eielson
MSN:
18477/C43
YOM:
1962
Flight number:
Irene92
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Aircraft flight hours:
3350
Circumstances:
The crew departed Shemya Airport, in the Aleutians Islands, bound for Eielson AFB, under call sign Irene 92. At 0936LT, while cruising between the Rats and Andreanof Islands, the copilot informed ATC about vibrations but elected to continue the flight. Few minutes later, the radio contact was lost due to technical problems but ATC was able to follow the plane on screens till 1022LT when it disappeared in the Amchitka passage. SAR operations were conducted for nine days but no trace of the airplane nor the 19 occupants was found. More details on http://www.spyflight.co.uk/Rivet%20Amber.htm
Probable cause:
Due to the lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it was reported that the airplane experienced severe turbulences while completing an observation mission off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. After landing at Shemya AFB, the airplane was inspected for damage. Extensive skin damage to the tail section to include the vertical stabilizer, and areas close to the long wire High Frequency (HF) antenna tail mounts was found. No other external or internal damage that could be visually inspected was discovered, and no damage to the modified sections of the aircraft’s S-Band radome was noted. Over the objection of the maintenance crew, the aircrew was directed to fly the aircraft to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska for additional inspection and repairs as necessary.
