Zone
Michigan

Crash of a Boeing B-52H-150-BW Stratofortress at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1988 at 0110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
60-0040
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB - Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB
MSN:
464405
YOM:
1960
Location:
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was dispatched at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB for a local training mission, carrying seven pilot under training and one instructor. Following several touch-and-go maneuvers, the crew attempted to takeoff when an explosion occurred in the rear of the aircraft, causing the tail section to detach. Out of control, the aircraft crash landed on the runway, slid for about 3,000 feet and came to rest, broken in several pieces. All eight crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a fuel pump overheated, causing an explosion in the aft fuel tank.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Greenwood: 27 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1982 at 2110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
58-0031
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sawyer - Chicago
MSN:
17776/246
YOM:
1959
Location:
Greenwood
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Aircraft flight hours:
9249
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB on a flight to Chicago-O'Hare Airport, carrying 23 passengers and a crew of four. After being cleared to descend from 22,000 feet to 8,000 feet, the crew reduced his speed when at an altitude of 13,700 feet, at a speed of 313 knots, the airplane suffered an in-flight explosion. Both wings detached, all four engines separated as well as the stabs and out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Greenwood, about 37 miles northwest of Chicago Airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 27 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Considered as 'most probable' was an over-pressurization under the cargo floor, an area that houses fuel and other potential sources of ignition. An explosion caused by the ignition of accumulated combustible vapors occurring in that area could, in fact, rapidly propagate to adjacent areas where fuel is present. There was also 'strong evidence' of explosive over-pressures in the forward, aft and upper fuel tank areas. Significantly, investigation showed that were the walls or fittings of the rubber bladder cells containing the volatile liquid to fail, fuel or vapor could be released into the tank cavity and in turn migrate to other part of the aircraft.

Crash of a Boeing B-52H-150-BW Stratofortress at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1977 at 0001 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
60-0039
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer - Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer
MSN:
464404
YOM:
1960
Location:
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training mission at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB, Michigan. On a night approach completed in stormy weather, the pilot-in-command had the runway in sight when the airplane entered a cloudy area. It continued to descent until it struck the ground and crashed in flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James B. Cosgrave, pilot,
1st Lt Gary Lee Hudson, copilot,
Cpt Lawrence Fitch Kraut, radio navigator,
Cpt Dennis Wilton Soerens, radio navigator,
Maj James F. Bartsch, EWO,
M/Sgt John William Moore, tail gunner,
Cpt Chris Morrill,
Cpt Pat Shortell.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker near Alpena: 15 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1976 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
61-0296
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer - Oscoda-Wurtsmith
MSN:
18203/518
YOM:
1962
Location:
Alpena
Michigan
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Aircraft flight hours:
6109
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB in the early morning on a flight to Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport. En route, the partially disintegrated in the air, entered a dive and crashed in a swampy area located 12,5 miles southwest of Alpena. 15 occupants were killed while five others were rescued.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but the assumption that the aircraft partially disintegrated in the air following a possible cabin pressurization problem was not ruled out.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-105-BW Stratofortress near Stone Lake: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
Operator:
Registration:
58-0228
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Barksdale - K. I. Sawyer
MSN:
464296
YOM:
1958
Location:
Stone Lake
Wisconsin
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew departed Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, at 1500LT on a training flight to Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB (K. I. Sawyer AFB), Wisconsin. The goal of the mission was to test the performances of a new ground reconnaissance radar. While cruising by night at low altitude, the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in a dense wooded area located south of Stone Lake. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Curtis E. Robertson, pilot,
1st Lt Darrick R. Negron, copilot,
Lt Col Jack Atherton, pilot instructor,
Cpt Edward E. Kamph, radio navigator,
1st Lt Jerome P. Calligari, navigator,
Maj James H. Crook, navigator instructor,
Cpt Michael J. Dunlap, early warning operator,
A1C Gerald D. Turney, air gunner,
M/Sgt Lonnie Woodard, flight engineer.
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