Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN at Howard AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
63-7983
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Grissom - Howard
MSN:
18600
YOM:
1963
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
8041
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the four engine aircraft landed hard and bounced. It became airborne again and went out of control before crashing onto a hill. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed HC-130P Hercules near Magdalena: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
66-0211
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kirtland - Kirtland
MSN:
4161
YOM:
1966
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Kirtland AFB on a test flight. While cruising at low altitude, the aircraft encountered turbulences and suffered a wing failure. It crashed in a hilly terrain located some 15,5 miles north of Magdalena. All 11 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker at Beale AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-1443
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Beale - Beale
MSN:
17931
YOM:
1960
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Aircraft flight hours:
9936
Circumstances:
The crew was dispatched at Beale AFB to follow a training program. Following several touch-and-go maneuvers, the crew started a new approach when the aircraft became unstable on final. The instructor allowed the pilot-in-command to continue the approach when the engine n°1 struck the runway surface, caught fire and exploded. Out of control, the airplane banked left and crashed, bursting into flames. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell CT-39A-1-NO Sabreliner in Wilkes Barre: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1985 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
62-4496
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
276-49
YOM:
1962
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
After landing at Wilkes-Barre Airport, the twin engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and went down a 125 feet embankment before coming to rest in flames. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in Fort Hood: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0549
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dyess AFB - Gray AAF
MSN:
4044
YOM:
1965
Location:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a training mission from Dyess AFB (Abilene) to the Gray AAF near Killeen, carrying eight crew members. En route, while flying at low height and dropping sand bags, the airplane went out of control and crashed near Fort Hood. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing RC-135T near Valdez: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
55-3121
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Eielson - Valdez - Eielson
MSN:
17237
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
Mary 24
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
15072
Circumstances:
The crew departed Eielson AFB southeast of Fairbanks on a training mission in the region of Valdez under callsign Mary 24. Following two successful approaches under MLS procedure, the crew started a third approach about four miles north of the prescribed MLS inbound course. While descending too low in poor visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and crashed. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was found. The wreckage was recovered by walkers on August 2, 1985.
Probable cause:
It was reported that the crew had used an approach procedure certified for de Havilland Canada DHC-7, a STOL airplane. The glide slope and missed approach for this airplane are significantly steeper than those for an RC-135 jet.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130A Hercules off Trujillo: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1985 at 0935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56-0501
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Howard – Trujillo – Comayagua
MSN:
3109
YOM:
1957
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Howard Airbase in Panama, the crew started the approach to Trujillo Airport in marginal weather conditions. While completing a left turn at low height with gear and flaps retracted, the aircraft struck the water surface with its left wingtip. Out of control, it crashed in the sea about 13 km from the airport. All 21 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was estimated to be 2,500 meters in haze with a 1,500 feet ceiling and a northerly wind gusting to 25 knots.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules at Giebelstadt AFB

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
68-10946
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Giebelstadt AFB - Giebelstadt AFB
MSN:
4326
YOM:
1969
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Giebelstadt AFB. For unknown reasons, the four engine aircraft landed hard, causing the undercarriage and both right engines n°3 and 4 to be torn off upon landing. The aircraft slid on its belly and came to rest in flames. All four crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing B-52G-80-BW Stratofortress in Hunts Mesa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1984 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
57-6479
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Fairchild - Fairchild
MSN:
464184
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Fairchild AFB, WA, on a training mission. While cruising by night, the crew encountered an unexpected situation (unknown technical problems) and decided to abandon the aircraft that crashed in a canyon located in Hunts Mesa, about 13 miles northeast of Kayenta, AZ. Two crew members were killed while five others were rescued. The aircraft disintegrated on impact.
Crew:
Cpt Robert L. Keeney, pilot,
Lt Douglas J. Schwartz, copilot,
Lt Kenneth O. Portis, navigator,
Maj Eugene J. Daspit, radio navigator,
Cpt Sean M. Yeronick, EWO,
Col William L. Ivy, observer, †
Sgt David W. Felix, air gunner. †

Crash of a Lockheed C-141B Starlifter at Sigonella NAS: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1984
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
64-0624
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sigonella – Nairobi – Diego Garcia
MSN:
300-6037
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Aircraft flight hours:
27379
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine n°3 exploded. Debris from the engine and the nacelle hit the engine n°4 and penetrated the fuselage as well. The engine n°4 lost power and the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all nine occupants. The aircraft was en route to the island of Diego Garcia via Nairobi, carrying a load of paint.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a fire erupted in the cargo compartment and that toxic fumes emanated from the paints, most of them consisting of cyanure. The crew was quickly asphyxiated by these toxic fumes.