Crash of a Boeing B-52B-30-BO Stratofortress on Mt Taylor: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
53-0380
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
16859
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Ciudad Juarez' departed Biggs AAF on a training mission with two F-100A Super Sabre. After five simulated missile passes followed by tail-chase gun "attacks" van Scyoc, the 188th's Safety Officer, hauled his fighter round for a final Sidewinder practice. He was closing with the bomber when his No. 2 AIM-9B suddenly left its rail, homed on to the B-52's left inboard engine pod and exploded, severing the wing. The B52 went out of control and entered a dive. Three crew members were able to bail out before the airplane crashed on Mt Taylor and was destroyed, killing five other crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Donald C. Blodgett, pilot,
Cpt Ray C. Obel, copilot,
Cpt Peter J. Gineris, navigator, †
Cpt Stephen Carter, bombardier, †
Cpt George D. Jackson, ECM,
2nd Lt Glenn Bair, ECM student, †
S/Sgt Ray A. Singleton, gunner,
S/Sgt Manuel L. Mieras, maintenance controller.
More info on:
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Crash of a Boeing B-52G-125-BW Stratofortress in Silver Hill: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1961 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-2576
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dow - Dow
MSN:
464339
YOM:
1959
Flight number:
Judy 24
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
233
Circumstances:
The crew departed Dow AFB for a training and refueling mission. At an altitude of 30,000 feet, while preparing to refuel with a USAF KC-125, the pilot-in-command reduce the speed too much, causing the airplane to stall and to enter a dive. Two crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion near Silver Hill. Six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Donald McCullen, pilot, †
Cpt William Woody Farmer, copilot, †
Cpt Robert Marsh Morgenroth, radar navigator, †
Cpt George William Beale, observer, †
S/Sgt James Howard Fults, gunner instructor, †
A1C Robert Nathaniel Gaskey, gunner student, †
Maj Wilbur Fred Minnich, navigator,
1st Lt Glen Charles Farnham, EWO.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Lockheed RC-121C Super Constellation near Marysville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
51-3842
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
McClellan - McClellan
MSN:
4118
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances ten miles of Marysville while completing a test flight out from McClellan AFB. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-52F-70-BW Stratofortress near Yuba City

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1961 at 1103 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-0166
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mather - Mather
MSN:
464155
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a sortie from Mather AFB, Sacramento. En route, the failure of the cabin pressurization system caused by a window crack forced the crew to make an emergency descent. The pilot informed ground about his situation and elected to divert to the nearest airport when all crew members decided to abandon the airplane that crashed in an uninhabited area located 15 miles west of Yuba City. The airplane was totally destroyed and all eight crew members were rescued, four of them were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pressurization system caused by a window crack.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7S Neptune in Lake George: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
147970
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jacksonville - Jacksonville
MSN:
726-7220
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew departed Jacksonville-Cecil Field NAS for a local searchlight mission. In the evening, while flying in foggy conditions, the airplane went out of control and crashed into Lake George, about 66 miles south of the airbase. The wreckage was found in the next morning and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Robert K. Morse, pilot,
Lt Walter T. Gardner, mechanic,
A2c Fred G. Pridgeon, technician,
At2 Harry G. Cummins, technician,
Terry L. Ramsby 3.

Crash of a Boeing KB-50D-120-BO Superfortress at Biggs AAF: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1961 at 1955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0328
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wake Island - Biggs
MSN:
16104
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a transpacific flight from Wake Island to Biggs AAF. While descending by night under VFR mode, the pilot informed ground his fuel reserve was low. On approach, the airplane struck the ground in a desert area, slid for 300 yards and eventually crashed on a sand dune and exploded six miles from runway 21 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Fred G. Padelford, pilot,
Cpt Bruce E. Christian, copilot,
Maj Wayne W. Holt, navigator,
T/Sgt Charles C. Timmsen, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Bernard F. Rivers, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Harold B. Mecusen, refueling operator,
A1c Clifton C. Tabor, refueling operator,
S/Sgt Claude L. Early, maintenance crew chief,
A2c Joseph T. Rothschopf, assistant crew chief.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker at Selfridge AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Selfridge - Selfridge
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Selfridge AFB on a refuelling mission, carrying a load of 9,500 gallons of fuel. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion few km from the airfield. On impact, few debris scattered around and struck several houses and a mill. The aircraft disintegrated and all five crew members were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.
Crew:
Lt John C. Bibble, pilot,
Cpt Lydell M. Haygood, pilot,
T/Sgt Robert E. Derby, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Ernest J. Lemoine III, boom operator,
Lt Robert L. Lewis, navigator.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Convair R4Y-1Z at Bader Field AFB

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
140378
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York - Andrews
MSN:
140
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from New York to Andrews AFB, carrying a crew of four and four passengers, among them Paul B. Fay Jr. who should be appointed under-secretary of the US Navy. While descending to Andrews, the crew was informed about poor weather conditions at destination and the captain decided to divert to Bader Field. Few minutes later, the electric system failed. The pilot-in-command was able to land on runway 04 at Bader Field but after touchdown, he was unable to activate the reverse thrust due to the electric failure. Unable to stop withing the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and eventually plunged into the Bay of Thorofare. All eight occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of the electric system in flight.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 at LBJ Ranch: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1961 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N94256
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Austin - LBJ Ranch
MSN:
117
YOM:
1948
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a positioning flight from Austin-Bergstrom Airport to LBJ Ranch to pick up Lyndon B. Johnson. vice-president of the United States. En route, the crew was informed about weather conditions at destination with low clouds and low visibility due to rain falls. While approaching the ranch under VFR mode, the pilot was unable to locate the runway due to lack of visibility (night and rain) and decided to return to Austin when the airplane struck the ground and crashed. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 707-123 off Montauk Point: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1961 at 1220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7502A
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
New York - New York
MSN:
17629
YOM:
1958
Flight number:
AA1502
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Idlewild Airport at 1157LT with a crew of six and climbed along the shore of Long Island on a training mission. 23 minutes later, the airplane christened 'Flagship Oklahoma' banked left, entered a dive and eventually crashed into the ocean five miles off shore. Few debris were found off Montauk Point and all six crew members have been killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the loss of control occurred while the crew was preparing to shut down an engine to simulate a failure or was initiating a particular flying configuration requiring the deployment of the flaps at an angle of 30 ° which was the case when the aircraft struck the water surface. The assumption that two of the four engines were inoperative at the time of impact is not ruled out.