Fairchild AFB (Spokane) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a local training mission at Fairchild AFB. During an aborted takeoff, the airplane crashed in unclear circumstances. Seven crew members were killed and three others were injured.

Ground fire of a Convair B-36B-15-CF Peacemaker at Fairchild AFB

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

Operator:

Registration:

44-92069

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Fairchild - Fairchild

MSN:

YOM:

1946

Location:

Fairchild AFB (Spokane)

Washington

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful training mission, the crew was returning to Fairchild AFB. After touchdown, the pilot completed the braking procedure and vacated the runway via a taxiway when one of the main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft came to a halt in flames and while all occupants were able to evacuate safely, the aircraft was completely destroyed by fire. It was reported that one of the undercarriage collapsed and punctured a fuel tank. The fire could not be extinguished in time.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage collapsed during taxi.

Crash of a Convair B-36B-10-CF Peacemaker in Fairchild AFB: 15 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1952 at 0345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

Operator:

Registration:

44-92050

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Fairchild - Fairchild

MSN:

YOM:

1946

Location:

Fairchild AFB (Spokane)

Washington

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a routine training flight and the plane was scheduled to conduct seven practice bomb runs at the Yakima Firing Center in Yakima County. During the takeoff roll from runway 23, the six engine aircraft encountered difficulties to rotate, overran and eventually rotated 520 feet past the runway end. The airplane climbed to a height of 50 feet then nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion in a field 3,314 feet past the runway end and 75 feet on the right of the extended center line. Two crew members were seriously injured while 15 others were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed. The pilot was also in command of another B-36 registered 44-92080 that crashed at Fairchild AFB last January 29.
Crew:
Cpt Cecil F. Alldredge, pilot, †
Cpt John Q. Boyd, †
T/Sgt Francis J. Brozowski, †
S/Sgt Martin Gordon Cohn, †
Cpt John E. Daly, †
S/Sgt Earl K. Davis, †
1st Lt Melvin H. Emley, †
S/Sgt John C. Gafford, †
Cpt Arthur L. Hulshizer, †
2nd Lt John J. Knaub, †
A2c Wilbur W. Knox Jr., †
1st Lt Herbert D. Merman, †
Cpt Albert E. Nelson, †
Cpt Earl G. Soderbeck, †
A1c Charles E. Sykora Jr., †
A2c James Breedlove,
M/Sgt Walter L. Campbell.

Probable cause:

The Air Force Board of Inquiry determined the crash was caused by pilot error. During the maximum-weight takeoff, the pilots apparently discovered that the elevator trim was set incorrectly, keeping the plane’s nose down. Rather than abort, Captain Cecil F. Alldredge, the aircraft commander, made the decision to continue, confident the trim could be corrected during the takeoff roll. The corrective action, however, came too late, and the pilots lost control. The plane continued on the ground 520 feet past the end of runway 23 before becoming briefly airborne. After reaching an altitude of approximately 50 feet, the aircraft struck the ground 75 feet to the right and 3,314 feet past the end of the runway and tore through the airfield perimeter fence, coming to rest 450 feet off the base. The debris field extended an additional 1,000 feet.

Crash of a Convair B-36B-20-CF Peacemaker in Fairchild AFB

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

Operator:

Registration:

44-92080

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Fairchild - Fairchild

MSN:

YOM:

1946

Location:

Fairchild AFB (Spokane)

Washington

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Fairchild AFB, the six engine aircraft crashed short of runway and came to rest in flames against a snow bank. All crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.