Crash of a Grumman C-2A Greyhound into the South China Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Grumman C-2A Greyhound
Operator:
Registration:
152793
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cubi Point - Saigon
MSN:
10
Location:
South China Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route from Cubi Point NAS to Saigon, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the South China Sea, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Lockheed P-3A-50-LO Orion off Cubi Point NAS: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1971 at 0710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion
Operator:
Registration:
152151
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cubi Point - Cubi Point
MSN:
185-5121
YOM:
1965
Location:
Subic Bay, Olongapo (Cubi Point NAS)
Bataan
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cubi Point NAS, while in initial climb, both engines n°2 & 3 exploded. Both electric and hydraulic systems failed and the captain elected to ditch the airplane that crashed into the sea few dozen yards offshore. Fifteen occupants were rescued while Ensign Ed Cooper was killed.
Probable cause:
The airplane's water-alcohol injection system was accidentally serviced with water and cleaning solvent by the ground crew. This caused the turbine inlet temperature to increase immediately after liftoff.

Crash of a Douglas CC-129 Dakota near Paulatuk: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
12930
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
13303
YOM:
1944
Location:
Paulatuk
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a SAR mission in the region of Palautuk. While flying by night at a relative low height, the pilot-in-command completed a turn when control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed, killing all eight occupants.
Crew:
Cpt C. A. Healy,
Cpt S. R. Gitzel,
Cpt P. C. Hodges,
Cpt L. A. Cooper,
Lt D. W. Smart,
Cpl W. E. Platt,
Sgt J. R. Lemieux,
Cpl R. N. Vodden.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter in Deer Lake

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1971
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
CF-MPZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
328
YOM:
1960
Location:
Deer Lake
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Deer Lake Airport. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Grumman S-2F Tracker at Sigonella NAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
MM133100
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sigonella - Sigonella
MSN:
71
YOM:
1957
Location:
Sigonella NAS
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Sigonella NAS, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. A crew member was seriously injured while three others were killed.
Crew:
Lt Giovanni Attanasio, †
Lt Carmello Basile, †
Salvatore Mantella, †
Sgt Angelo Pozzi.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97G Stratotanker near Suez: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
4X-FPR/033
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
16714
YOM:
1952
Location:
Suez
Suez
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While conducting a survey flight, the airplane was shot down by an Egyptian missile after it penetrated the Egyptian airspace. It crashed in a desert area located near Suez. A crew member survived while seven others were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune off Chōshi: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
4651
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
226-2035
Location:
Chōshi
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While conducting a maritime patrol flight, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Pacific Ocean off the city of Chōshi. All 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing C-135B Stratolifter into the Pacific Ocean: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1971 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing C-135 Stratolifter
Operator:
Registration:
61-0331
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pago Pago - Hickam
MSN:
18238/C16
YOM:
1962
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Aircraft flight hours:
11062
Circumstances:
The crew departed Pago Pago on a flight to Hickam Field, Honolulu, taking part to an observation mission of the French atmospheric nuclear tests in the Pacific. While flying in good weather conditions at an altitude of 33,000 feet and at a speed of 870 km/h, a crew member contacted ATC but the content of the message was inaudible. Five minutes later, the airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Pacific Ocean some 1,100 km southwest of Hawaii. Few debris were found floating on water and none of the 24 occupants survived the crash.
Occupants:
Donald E. Ashland,
Cpt Byron C. Burnett,
Rola F. Blanchard,
John P. Cahill,
Thomas R. Connor,
Charles V. Dito,
1st Lt James M. Gilbert,
Dean L. Hoar,
S/Sgt Kenneth Steven Kowal,
Maj John R. McGinn,
T/Sgt Hubert Miles Jr.,
Allen Moriffette,
Maj William Edward Page Jr.,
David Penney,
Lt Col Victor John Reinhart,
Cpt Perry Thomas Rose,
Col Billy L. Skipworth,
Edward M. Slagel,
Anthony J. Theriault,
John B. Tumas,
Maj william Herman Unsderfer Jr.,
Maj Joseph B. William,
S/Sgt Elno Roe Weimer.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the aircraft was intact until impact with water surface. Also, it is believed that the recent technical modification did not have any incidence with the accident. Few days prior to the mishap, the aircraft was equipped with 11 additional portholes and a radome.

Crash of a Grumman CS-2F-3 Tracker off Sheet Harbour: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Grumman S-2 Tracker
Operator:
Registration:
12175
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Shearwater - Shearwater
MSN:
DH74
YOM:
1966
Location:
Sheet Harbour
Nova Scotia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Sheet Harbour while on a maritime patrol flight out from Shearwater AFB. All four crew members were killed.
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