Crash of a Boeing B-52G-130-BW Stratofortress off Diego Garcia AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-2593
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Diego Garcia - Diego Garcia
MSN:
464356
YOM:
1959
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in the operation 'Desert Storm' when the crew encountered electrical and engine problems in flight. Three crew members were able to bail out while three others were killed as they ejected too late.
Crew:
Cpt Kevin Kent, pilot,
Cpt Jeffrey Love, copilot,
Sgt Steven Ellard, gunner,
Cpt Jon Jeffrey Olson, radar navigator, †
1st Lt Jorge I. Arteaga, navigator, †
1st Lt Eric D. Hedeen, EWO. †
Probable cause:
The problems started with an electrical malfunction on preflight with a main tank fuel gauge. The decision to take the aircraft with the initial fuel gauge problem was compounded by failures in crew coordination, crew management, and failure to follow procedures when further malfunctions occurred, and a cascade of errors compounding initial minor errors in judgment and procedures. The aircraft crashed because multiple engines ceased operating as a result of fuel starvation with over 30,000 lbs of fuel still on board the aircraft.

Crash of a Lockheed AC-130H Hercules near Ras al-Khafji: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
69-6567
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
4341
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
Spirit 03
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
Engaged in the operation 'Desert Storm', the aircraft was completing a flight to Kuwait City under call sign 'Spirit 03' with 14 people on board from the 16th Squadron of Special Operations. En route, the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed about 110 km south of Kuwait City. All 14 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

Crash of a Lockheed C-5A Galaxy at Ramstein AFB: 13 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1990 at 0034 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
68-0228
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ramstein - Dhahran
MSN:
500-0031
YOM:
1970
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Ramstein AFB on a flight to Dhahran, carrying medical supplies, food and various equipment for US troops based in Saudi Arabia. Following a night takeoff from runway 27, while at a height of about 50-100 feet at a speed of 161 knots, the aircraft stopped climbing and started rolling to the left. The left wing struck pine trees, causing the engine n°1 to be torn off. Out of control, the airplane lost height and crashed in a wooded area located about one km past the runway end. Four occupants were seriously injured while 13 others were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the thrust reverser on engine n°1 inadvertently deployed shortly after liftoff due to technical issue.

Ground explosion of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Pease AFB

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1990 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-1494
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
17982
YOM:
1960
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While parked at Pease AFB and under maintenance, the aircraft suffered several explosions and caught fire. Two mechanics evacuated safely and the aircraft was destroyed by fire. It is believed the aircraft caught fire as it was being prepared for refueling and had a little fuel on board.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker in Carlingford: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1989 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-3592
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Loring - Loring
MSN:
17341
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Loring AFB on a training flight. While cruising by night along the US-Canada border, the aircraft suffered an explosion, entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in Carlingford, New Brunswick. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
A fuel pump go dry and ignited fuel vapor after becoming overheated. Fifth KC-135 accident due to similar causes. At least 1,500 liters of fuel must remain in all tanks to avoid fuel pump overheating.

Ground explosion of a Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker at Eielson AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1989 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-1481
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
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 Lockheed C-130H Hercules at Fort Bragg AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1989 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
74-1681
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort Bragg AFB - Fort Bragg AFB
MSN:
4654
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
USAF681
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was engaged in a training mission at Fort Bragg AFB. While dropping a M551 Sheridan tank over the Sicily Drop Zone, the tank go stuck with the parachute cables. The airplane became unstable, stalled and crashed. Six crew members were injured while a seventh occupant was killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-141B Starlifter at Hurlburt Field AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1989 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
66-0150
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Norton - Peterson Field - Hurlburt Field
MSN:
6176
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
29148
Circumstances:
The C-141B departed Norton AFB for a flight to Hurlburt Field with an intermediate stop at Peterson Field near Colorado Springs. The crew had to return back to Norton due to a leaking comfort pallet. At the end of the second leg, the crew were confronted with thunderstorms covering the approach path for the ILS approach to runway 36 at Hurlburt Field, the primary instrument runway. The crew requested the TACAN approach to runway 18, which was an approach over swampy terrain. The aircraft entered a high rate of descent, causing the GPWS to sound. The copilot reset two GPWS warnings and the descent was continued below the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) of 345 feet agl. The airplane finally impacted terrain in a wings level, nose low attitude. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Dyess AFB: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1989 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7990
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dyess - Hickham
MSN:
18607
YOM:
1963
Location:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff from runway 16 at Dyess AFB, while climbing to a height of about 60-100 feet, the aircraft banked right, causing the right wing to struck the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion and was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All 19 occupants were killed, among them army officer and family members including spouses and children.
Probable cause:
It is believed that vapor was coming out from an engine, maybe due to a technical problem on the water injection system.

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:
Operator:
Registration:
60-0040
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB - Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB
MSN:
464405
YOM:
1960
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.