|
E-Mail additions, corrections etc. to
G. Verver
China Lake accidents, incidents & SOC's. Last updated 23 April, 2024
E-Mail additions, corrections etc. to G. Verver
|
BuNo |
Modex |
Type |
Command |
date |
fatal |
SOC code |
Comments |
|
39632 |
|
R5O-6 |
MBDAG-44 |
09 Mar 1944 |
|
No history card. |
Pilot Capt. B.D. Bramhall and co-pilot Maj. J.W. Wyland started takeoff on runway 34 at NOTS Inyokern. Plane swerved to the left, corrected and then swerved right and ground looped. The left wheel collapsed and the left engine caught fire. The entire aircraft excluding the tail was destroyed by the fire. All four crew members and 13 passengers escaped without injury. |
| 44929 | NH-1 | CASU-53 | 29 Apr 1944 | Landing accident, H. J. Camps | |||
|
40860 |
|
F6F-3 |
NOTS |
20 Jun 1944 |
Innis |
|
Lt. Donald A. Innis after whom Innis Road at Harvey Field is named, was over the Salton Sea in Southern CA on a rocket firing flight when a rocket body exploded prematurely on his starboard wing. His F6F Hellcat fighter which was in a 14-degree dive at the time went into a slow spin and crashed into the sea. |
|
46185 |
|
TBM-1C |
VC-82 |
25 Jun 1944 |
Walthall |
|
Lt. Douglas J. Walthall and Radioman 2nd class (ARM2) Wilson McKinley Keller of Composite Squadron 82, a torpedo bomber unit temporarily attached to the Air Facility for rocket training, lost their lives when their Torpedo Bomber crashed during a rocket firing test on the B-2 range. A five-inch rocket exploded as it was fired, blowing off eight feet of Lt. Walthall's starboard wing. A board of inquiry found the rocket was improperly assembled and that the propellant had ignited the warhead. |
| 42757 | F6F-3 | VF-5 | 18 Jul 1944 | Lt. Harvey G. Odenbrett engine failed on takeoff after he switched off the emergency fuel pump at an altitude of 100 feet. He turned the emergency pump back on and switched fuel tanks without success and made an emergency flaps up landing 1/2 mile from the end of the runway. The aircraft and engine received class A damage. | |||
| 42782 | F6F-3 | CASU-6 | 22 Jul 1944 | 1st Lt. Bernard I. Heller was seriously injured (skull fracture) when the engine began to cut out after takeoff from runway 16 and he made an emergency flaps down, gear up, nose high landing in the sand. Power loss was caused by the mixture being in auto rich vs. full rich and the elec. fuel pump being off. The pilot was injured when one of the shoulder straps parted on impact. The aircraft and engine received class B damage. | |||
|
18248 |
|
SB2C-1C |
NOTS |
21 Aug 1944 |
Armitage |
|
Lt. John "Jack" Armitage lost his life when his SB2C Helldiver, crashed at NOTS Inyokern. Immediately after he fired an 11.75" Tiny Tim in a 20-degree dive at a range of 1500 yards his plane nosed over, passed through the rocket's blast cone and crashed. The board of inquiry found the firing had forced an outboard elevator tab up, keeping his plane in the dive and that passing through the blast cone had increased the effect. China Lake's Armitage Field is named for Lt. Armitage. |
|
58818 |
|
F6F-5 |
NOTS |
29 Aug 1944 |
Dibb |
|
Lt. Robert A. Dibb, after whom Dibb Road on the Station is named, was killed when an inert five-inch AR rocket fired at 30 degree dive at 1,000 yards range and a speed of 280 knots ricocheted 500 feet into the air and took off one wing of his F6F Hellcat. He pulled out at 600 feet and the rocket body struck him from above carrying away the right wing hinge fitting causing the right wing to come off. |
| 48232 | XFR-1 | Ryan | 13 Oct 1944 | Kerlinger | Ryan Aeronautical chief test pilot Robert J. Kerlinger was killed when the XFR-1 crashed unobserved in Sycamore canyon during an aerobatic flight to check aileron forces. | ||
|
24516 |
|
TBF-1C |
AODU San |
10 Nov 1944 |
|
|
crashed 3 miles west of Highway 6 on Leona Valley Road, 100 yards NE of bridge B452, Palmdale, CA 10/11/44 - Linge, H., Lt. Sr. Grade, USN Inyokern Navy Base - Report |
| 57304 | F4U-1D | NOTS | 05 Jan 1945 | A | LT(jg) Robert Black made a forced landing 200 yards south of Harvey Field due to engine failure resulting from mismanagement of fuel tanks while engaged in FCLP. The accident resulted in class A damage to the airframe and engine. | ||
| 85104 | JRB-4 | NOTS | 03 Mar 1945 | Lt. Donald Kirkpatrick made an approach with excessive speed and flaps up to the 3,000 foot partially turf strip with high tension lines and houses at each end at Alhambra. The excessive speed after landing upwind and downhill on wet turf couldn't be controlled and a skid resulted. The starboard landing gear collapsed when the plane hit a dip and resulted in damage to the starboard wing, propeller, engine and horizontal stabilizer. No injuries to the pilot or passengers Capt. Lewis N. Moeller, Lt. Abraham L. Pittinger, LCdr. Don Anderson, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jack B. Martin and Dr. W.N. Arnquist. | |||
| 26253 | NE-1 | NOTS | 23 Jul 1945 | 4-5-F | CAP R.P. Sullivan was ordered to fly to Coso Range and land on a nearby road to deliver a message. He landed suceessfullly, but on takeoff he struck a rock before gaining flying speed and the plane was thrown into the air and he was unable to recover. The aircraft received class A damage. | ||
| 81041 | F4U-4 | VMF-223 | 28 Jul 1945 | 1-2-C | Lt. Donald Kirkpatrick was on the 2nd of four dives firing 5.0" HVAR's and pulled out straight ahead after firing. Just as he was beginning to climb the aircraft was struck by a ricochet which pierced the engine cowling and crushed the #14 jug. The engine began to smoke immediately and he started an approach to the emergency strip near the B Range control tower and lowered the landing gear. However the engine failed completely 400 yards short of the strip and he made a full stall landing in bumpy desert terrain which collapsed the landing gear resulting in strike damage to the aircraft. | ||
| F6F | VMF-225 | 02 Sep 1945 | 1st Lt. Herbert Lee Libbey lost his life when he crashed 20 mile north of Wildrose Station in the Panamint mountains. The wreckage was discovered 13 June 1957. | ||||
| 45016 | GH-3 | NAF | 24 Feb 1946 | Pilot Walter W. Roman landed and stopped on the runway at NAS Los Alamitos due to the tail wheel being stuck in the locked position. The tower then cleared four F4U Corsairs to land. The first took a wave off, the 2nd landed short, the 3rd landed a little longer and overran the GH-3, demolishing the aircraft. Also on board were R.M. Tyocen and J.H. Roche | |||
| 79132 | F6F-5 | NOTS | 03 Oct 1946 | 4-5-F | Pilot Ens. Frederick C. Sukyres made a normal approach and 3 point landing at Inyokern and had slowed to about 50 knots when a sudden gust of wind lifted the left wing and tire off the ground. Pilot applied throttle and full left controls to no avail and the plane swerved sharply right, left the runway and ran through a pile of dirt in an area being excavated by contractors. Airplane then careened into ledge of old ramp (about 14" high) and nosed over on the prop and cowling and slid for an additional 30 feet. Aircraft was a strike. | ||
| 58343 | F6F-5 | NOTS | 17 Oct 1946 | Prior to flight the aircraft wouldn't start and the lower plugs were removed and oil was drained from the cylinders. Pilot Lt. Charles S. Brookes successfully started the engine, but neglected to run the engine up to over 31-32" manifold pressure to clear it. After takeoff the engine began to miss and although power was reduced the engine began to miss more rapidly and lose power. Pilot made a 45 degree turn to the right to miss obstructions before the plane impacted the ground with the flaps down and gear retracted and sliding 200 feet before striking a high wire fence and stopping. Aircraft was a strike. | |||
|
78980 |
|
F6F-5 |
NAF |
24 Jul 1947 |
|
|
Lt. Joseph A. Pariseau made a wheels up landing in the dirt adjacent to the main runway after hydraulic failure caused by damage to a fitting on the starboard landing gear. Aircraft suffered class D damage. |
| civilian | 14 Sep 1947 | NOTS employees James B. Delmonego, 25, and Harold A. Barnes, 42, and two companions were killed in Tulare county mountains Sunday when the plane in which they were flying overshot the Tunnel Meadow airport and crashed while turning for another attempt at a landing. The other victims were identified as pilot Ray Jones of LaCrescenta and George K. Owens of Chula Vista. Bakersfield Californian, Monday, September 15, 1947. | |||||
| 120456 | OY-1 | NOTS | 21 Oct 1947 | 4-5-L | Pilot LCdr. John H. Jorgenson and backseater Lt. Sidney R. Overall were landing on a graded strip on flat desert waste land (B-1 range) bordered by soft sand graded from the landing strip. Ground contact was a normal two point landing and after approx. 575 yards the tail wheel settled and shortly thereafter encountered a dust devil which couldn't be avoided. The plane swerved to the right despite corrective action by the pilot and rode over the shoulder of the runway where pilot tried to ground loop it to the right. Plane continued ahead and struck a soft sand lump and greasewood bush and nosed over throwing the occupants violently about the cabin. The plane suffered class B damage and Lt. Overall suffered two compression fractures of vertebrae and scalp lacerations. Following the accident it was recommended that shoulder harnesses be installed in this type a/c. | ||
| 44661 | JRB-4 | NAF | 31 Oct 1947 | 4-5-J | Pilot LCdr. Eugene A. Valencia and co-pilot Lt. Caddie G. McGee made an emergency landing at Olancha, CA following loss of power in the right engine combined with smoke and fumes in the cockpit. After touchdown the left wing dropped, was picked up, dropped again and the left prop and engine struck the ground. The aircraft ground looped to the left and slid sideways for a considerable distance before coming to a stop off the runway at a heading of 105 degrees to the runway heading. The aircraft was a strike and was disassembled and returned to NAF. | ||
|
78980 |
|
F6F-5 |
NAF |
03 Feb 1948 |
|
|
LCdr. William H. Game was on a gunnery flight to test Mk 3 Mod 0 toss bomb director when the range engineer reported he was leaving a heavy smoke trail and he requested an emergency landing at Armitage Field. At two miles NW of the field he asked that his plane be checked for smoke and entered the pattern on the downwind leg and the tower reported that no smoke was visible and gave instructions for runway 31. As plane started turnoff from downwind base leg tower personnel observed a smoke trail. As the gear came down the pilot cancelled the emergency request and asked crash truck to standby. On base leg at an altitude of 200-300 feet the engine was observed to be coughing and emitting puffs of black smoke and on final at 20 degrees to runway ran erratically for 6-7 seconds before the prop stopped turning. The pilot noted he was losing altitude rapidly and at a speed of 86 knots and an altitude of 70 feet raised the landing gear as there was a banked dirt road crossing the runway approach and a 4 foot deep drainage ditch 200 feet from the end of the runway. At this time the plane stalled, dropped on it's left wing, struck the ground, rebounded and cartwheeled to a stop 1,500 feet short of the runway. Pilot received lacerations, contusions and abrasions. Aircraft received strike damage. |
| 90534 | JRB-4 | NAF | 31 May 1948 | 4-5-L CAT I |
Pilot LCdr. James D. Mooney, Lt(jg) Warren F. Paris, ADC William H Kirk and AD1 Richard W. Haslet crashed on takeoff after encountering a reversal of wind direction. Aircraft swerved 20 degrees to the left, pilot applied corrective action and avoided debris on left side of runway. Swerve to right continued until plane was headed toward a tetrahedron on the right of the runway and the pilot turned further right to avoid it added full power and left the runway 40 degrees to right of runway at 40 mph. Pilot elected to continue takeoff and allowed angle of attack to become too great at below stalling speed after initial bounce. Co-pilot erred in applying full flaps and the combination of these errors prevented the plane from accelerating out of a stall condition. | ||
|
45-21847 |
|
B-29A |
USAF |
21 Jul 1948 |
0 |
|
The aircraft had taken off from NOTS/NAF Inyokern on a scientific mission to study variations in solar radiation with altitude as part of the Upper Air Research Project and was on one of its final runs of the day. After completing a run to 30,000 feet east of Lake Mead, the crew began their descent and leveled out just 300 feet above the lake's surface. The B-29 struck the water at nearly 250 miles per hour which ripped 3 of the 4 engines from their mounts, set fire to the fourth and severely damaged the left wing and horizontal stabilizer. The pilots were able to pull up and get the plane airborne again, skipping it like a stone across a calm pond. |
|
90550 |
|
JRB-4 |
NAF |
03 Feb 1949 |
7 |
4-7-Z |
Cdr. A. Minvielle, 34, (NAF XO and pilot), Lt(jg). Charles Matus, 27, (co-pilot), Civil Service Dr. J.K.L. McDonald, Civil Service Dr. John McKinley, 42, Civil Service employee Mr. Myron G. Kellogg, 35, Civil Service employee Mr. Rodney Morrin, 36, and Civil Service employee Mr. Joseph Vargus 36, lost their lives when their JRB-4 Expeditor crashed in the Sierras enroute to NAS Alameda. The wreckage was found 21 April 1949 near Owens Peak at the 7,000 foot level, 17 miles north of Inyokern, CA. |
| 97267 | F4U-4 | NAF | 09 Mar 1950 | C | ADC Bert Charles Spray made an inadvertant wheels up landing resulting in Class C damage to the airframe during a test flight. | ||
| 79004 | F6F-5K | NAMTC | 24 Apr 1950 | AOC Robert H. Nesbitt reduced power slightly at 200 feet after takeoff from runway 21 and the engine began to backfire and airspeed dropped from 130 to 80 knots. A left turn was started in an attempt to land on runway 31, but unable to make the airfield he made a flaps down, wheels up, tail down landing on an easterly heading. The aircraft received class A damage. | |||
|
97061 |
|
F4U-4 |
NAF |
17 Jan 1952 |
0 |
|
Pilot Lt(jg). Joel Premselaar, 31, made a forced landing on the B-1 range emergency strip 7 mi. NW Armitage Field after a 2.75" FFAR misfired from an experimental launcher. The rocket tore a 15" x 4" piece from one prop blade and damaged two others causing severe engine vibrations that required the engine to be shut down. The B-1 strip was 4,000' long by 70' wide, 1500' blacktop and 2,500' hard pack leveled dirt at 2256' elev. |
| 49-2534 | F-94A | USAF | 17 Jan 1952 | fuel exhaustion 14.5 miles SE NOTS China Lake | |||
|
121698 |
|
F8F-2D |
NAMTC |
18 Apr 1952 |
|
1NA1 |
wheels-up landing. |
|
|
|
Civilian |
26 May 1952 |
Pratt |
|
Passenger George W. Pratt, 29, an engineering draftsman in the rocket department, and pilot Verne W. Disney, 54, a machinist in the rocket department, were killed in an air crash near the Ridgecrest airport. Eye witnesses stated that the plane overshot the runway, banked over sharply and went into a dive. Both men were thrown clear of the plane. |
|
|
125503 |
|
F2H-2 |
NAF |
10 July 1952 |
Darden |
1GA2 |
LCdr. John E. Darden lost his life when his F2H-2 Banshee lost a wing in flight while diving and firing rockets and crashed in front of a bleacher full of aviation writers. This was the first flight test death at NAF since 1944. According to Joel Premselaar ... he was firing HVAR rockets at a ground target from a relatively shallow dive and in the recovery the wing peeled off followed very quickly by the entire empennage. I do recall something to the effect that previous to the accident a stress plate on the underside of the port wing was removed during a routine maintenance inspection. When replaced, short screws were placed in the locations where the longer screws were to go. In addition, there was the aeroelastic wing problem. The center of pressure (c.p.) moved forward starting at about 0.68 Mach increasing the twist on the wings. The c.p. moved back while transitioning the transonic range at about 0.8 Mach. The -2 was Mach limited at 0.85. Several -2s and F-89s were lost as a consequence of this problem. |
|
9089 |
|
XBT2D-1 |
NAF |
16 Nov 1952 |
|
21N1 |
SOC 06 Feb 1953 due to depreciation & salvaged for parts. |
| 123904 | 904 | AD-4 | NAF | 20 Jan 1953 | AD-4 Skyraider BuNo 123904 piloted by ADC Joseph F. Pessillo was being used for catapult tests after a change order increasing the catapult psi from 3500 to 4000. On the fifth launch the shuttle failed to accelerate normally and the AD overtook the shuttle and the bridle dropped free. The pilot aborted the takeoff immediately upon recognizing he had a cold cat shot and, free of the bridle, the aircraft swerved left and the tail wheel was struck by the opposite returning shuttle. The entire tail wheel and actuating assembly was replaced and extensive related metal work was need to repair the damage. | ||
| 123767 | F3D-1 | NAF | 14 Apr 1953 | "E" | GMTU-61 pilot Lt. J. Grentzer inadvertently exceeded the G limits while on a Fam. flight which resulted in sheared rivets and screws in the center tank area, left wing root and skin wrinkling on the wing. | ||
| 51058 | SNB-1 | NAF | 16 May 1953 | 1KA1 | NAF pilot Lt. F.J. Wickenheiser and NOTS employee Mr. (illegible) I. Stanton acting as lookout in the co-pilots seat took off from runway 21. Immediately after takeoff the pilot observed smoke and flames issuing from the rudder pedal aperture in the deck below his feet. The passenger notified the tower of the emergency and obtained the CO2 bottle from the passenger compartment and discharged it on the flames at the pilots feet. The pilot made an immediate 280 degree turn, lowered the flaps, and landed on runway 31 and the pilot and passenger exited the aircraft. About 90 seconds later the crash crew arrived and extinguished the flames. The aircraft suffered class B damage and transfered to NAS San Diego for diposition. | ||
|
126316 |
XE- |
F2H-3 |
VX-5 |
13 Aug 1953 |
|
1AA1 |
Moffet Field based VX-5 pilot Frank M. Posch crashed at NAS St. Louis, MO during a forced landing after an in flight explosion. |
|
125736 |
|
AD-4N |
VC-35 |
09 Sep 1953 |
Stickney |
|
San Diego based pilot Ens. A. R. Stickney of North Hollywood, CA, AO3 John C. Peckenpaugh, Harinsburg, KY, and SA Paul D. Pock, Altamont, CA, died when their AD-4 crashed at Owens Lake, CA. The plane crashed and exploded while in formation with another plane from NAS San Diego on a training flight. |
| 132277 | XE-15 | AD-4B | VX-5 | 17 Dec 1953 | 1AA1 | USAF 1LT Wm. L. Green was on a local fam flight at NAF China Lake and was on final approach in a standard field pattern for runway 31 progressing to a wings level position at 350 feet and 95 knots, wheels and flaps down. The flareout was slightly high and the left wing probably contacted the ground and the pilot added full power to recover. The aircraft became airborne to about 40 feet and rolled to the left. After about 350 feet of forward travel, final impact occurred to the left of the runway in a vertical bank and slightly nose down, cartwheeled and burst into flames. The pilot suffered minor burns and freed himself from the wreckage. | |
| BT-13 | 1 Apr 1954 | Schmidt Atkinson |
Don Schmidt and Edward Atkinson from NOTS China Lake were killed when their BT-13 crashed and burned in Los Varas canyon 15 miles NW of Santa Barbara. The plane was part of a widespread search for a NAMTC Point Mugu F2H Banshee piloted by Lt. Albert D. McHenry that had gone missing the previous Monday | ||||
| 78526 | F6F-5 | ATU-300 | 18 Apr 1954 | Lt. Jack Stephenson, had just left Armitage Field, on a return trip to NAAS Cabaniss Field at Corpus Christie, Tex., when engine trouble developed and he made a crash landing in the Rademacher Mountains 10 miles SE of NAF Inyokern. | |||
|
131973 |
AM-17 |
FJ-2 |
VMF-451 |
19 May 1954 |
|
|
USMC Capt. Gordon Kesson Jackson overshot his landing at NAF Inyokern and escaped unhurt, although the aircraft was SOC. |
|
134490 |
H-506 |
AD-6 |
VA-155 |
03 Jun 1954 |
Ellis |
|
LCdr. Kermit Q. Ellis, VA-155 XO, NAS Moffett, lost his life when his AD-6 Skyraider failed to pull out of a dive and crashed in an uninhabited area 5 miles bearing 330 degrees from Armitage Field. |
| 132438 | AD-5 | NASWF | 28 Jun 1954 | Davis | A two-place Navy dive bomber on a routine flight from Inyokern to Albuquerque crashed yesterday killing ADR2 Ward D. Davis. The pilot, Lt. W. R. Chester, suffered minor burns, cuts and bruises when he parachuted between 3,000 and 4,000 feet into rugged country 35 miles NW of Albuquerque. Bakersfield Californian, Tuesday, June 29, 1954. | ||
| 72974 | F6F-5K | NOTS | 30 Jul 1954 | 1KF1 | |||
| 80098 | F6F-5K | NOTS | 30 Jul 1954 | 1KF1 | |||
| 50-471 | F-86D | NAA | 26 Mar 1955 | North American Aviation F-86D s/n 50-471 was written off in a forced landing due to engine failure, 1 mile North of NAF China Lake. | |||
| 53-7787 | XF-104 | USAF | 22 Apr 1955 | Pilot ejected safely after an armament explosion caused the plane to crash on a NOTS China Lake gunnery range. | |||
|
126424 |
|
F2H-3 |
NAF |
13 Jul 1955 |
|
1KA2 |
LCdr. J. J. S. Davis suffered back injuries when his F2H-2 Banshee crashed and burned when making a forced landing after a routine flight. |
|
124586 |
|
XF4D-1 |
Douglas |
05 Jan 1956 |
|
31R5 |
SOC 11 Jan 1956, Survivability lab |
|
123350 |
|
F2H-2 |
NAF |
15 Feb 1956 |
Duffy |
1BA2 |
Lt(jg). Charles Arthur Duffy lost his life when his F2H-2 Banshee crashed during routine training while simulating an emergency landing. |
| 79249 | F6F-5K | NOTS | 08 Mar 1956 | 1LA1 | Flight test accident | ||
| 01 Sep 1956 | Deputy Sherriff James Hurt and Robert Johnson, Chief of the sherrifs aero squadron, were injured when their plane crashed at Inyokern Naval Air Station. | ||||||
|
139926 |
XE-8 |
A4D-1 |
VX-5 |
10 Oct 1956 |
Hooks |
1KA1 |
Pilot Lt. Bennett W. Hooks, VX-5 Project Officer, lost his life following an in-flight fire when his A4D-1 Skyhawk exploded and burned on a dry lake yesterday after he tried to make an emergency landing rather than bail out. According to Henry White (VX-5 Feb.1956 - Oct. 1957) it was determined that he was trying to land on the deserted runway at Inyokern during an in-flight fire. The autopsy indicated he had inhaled the hot flames and probably died before impact. |
| 94513 | F6F-5K | NAF | 31 May 1957 | NOLO | 1LA1 | Radio control was lost and the drone crashed in a wheat field 50 miles south of Spokane, WA three hours later. The plane was flying at 250 miles per hour at an altitude of 20-25,000 feet when control was lost according to Capt. F. Ashworth. | |
| Regulus II | Edwards | 4 June 1957 | A Navy Regulus II missile launched from Edwards crashed 2 miles east of Searles Dry Lake on the Mojave B Range because of sudden control failure. | ||||
|
142212 |
WK-20 |
A4D-1 |
VMA-224 |
16 Jun 1957 |
|
1AA1 |
USMC 2nd Lt. Don M. Gomez, age 22, lost his life when his El Toro based A4D-1 Skyhawk impacted the ground at high speed in level flight in the Panamint valley 35 miles NE of Inyokern. He was on his second LABS Fam. flight prior to the squadrons use of the C-3 Range at NAF China Lake. |
|
|
|
AD-6 |
VA-155 |
31 Jul 1957 |
Litzenberg |
|
Lt. Charles W. Litzenberg, from NAS Miramar, lost his life while engaged in loft-bombing maneuvers when his VA-155 AD-6 Skyraider crashed and burned on Charlie Range. |
|
141464 |
ND |
FJ-4B |
VA-214 |
28 Oct 1957 |
Gonzales |
1AA1 |
Ens. David Gonzales from Moffett lost his life when his VA-214 FJ-4B Fury crashed short of the runway. |
|
143706 |
|
F8U-1 |
NAF |
09 May 1958 |
|
1KA2 |
Pilot Cdr. Seldon May ejected after it flamed out and couldn’t be restarted. |
|
|
|
FJ-4 |
Mojave |
14 May 1958 |
|
|
USMC 1st Lt. Matthew Peck operating from MAAS Mojave ejected after a fired rocket didn't separate from the wing launch rail. |
|
134762 |
762 |
F4D-1 |
NAF |
14 May 1958 |
|
1QA2 |
Lt. S. Joel Premselaar ejected after a flight control crankpin failed. |
|
138501 |
|
HO4S-3 |
NAF |
14 May 1958 |
|
|
LCdr. P.W. Nichols and crew survived the crash of the SAR helicopter as it attempted to rescue Premselaar. |
|
142727 |
XE- |
A4D-2 |
VX-5 |
31 May 1958 |
|
1AA1 |
Cdr. Larry Cauble ejected after a flameout during an air firepower demonstration while executing an over-the-shoulder loft bombing maneuver for the Aviation Writers Association at Corpus Christi, TX. The plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico and he was immediately picked up by the hovering NAS rescue helicopter. |
|
139551 |
XE-2 |
FJ-4B |
VX-5 |
24 Jun 1958 |
Hopfinger |
1KA1 |
LCdr. Richard M. Hopfinger,34, lost his life when his FJ-4B Fury crashed on the aft end flight deck of the USS Bon Homme Richard. The accident occurred after a refueling exercise off the coast of Monterey, CA. DC2 Charles E. Ziehler, DCN Derald M. Lawrence, FN Lorenzo Palacios Rubio and FA Marion Edward Fuller were seriously injured and taken to the Oakland Naval Hospital. SOC 30 Jun 1958 |
| 56-0900 | F-104C | 479th TFW 476th TFG |
19 Mar 1959 | George AFB pilot Capt. John R. Niemela was part of a four ship formation practicing dry hook-ups with a KB-50J tanker. Upon stabilizing behind the tanker after a hook-up the F-104 flamed and after unsuccessful attempts to restart he ejected at 15,000 MSL and the aircraft impacted a 6,600 foot mountain on a 60 degree slope and disintegrated. Capt. Niemela was picked up by China Lake SAR 20 miles north of Lake Isabella. | |||
| 122984 | 984 | P2V-3 | NAF | 13 Apr 1959 | 1KA1 | Shortly after take-off the #1 engine caught fire and then separated from the wing. LCdr. Bailey made a forced landing on Charlie Range which collapsed the stbd main gear. Other crew members were: Lt. R. K. Watson, co-pilot; John Klinger, AD3; plane captain: W. A. Hunter, AD3; R. M. Barnes, AN; E. A. Baron. AO1; R. H. Williams, AQ1; and LeRoy Corlett of Heavy Attack Branch "A," Aviation Ordnance Department. | |
| 130957 | F9F-6D | NAF | 17 Apr 1959 | 39R2 | SOC - with Pool BuAer M&S China Lake | ||
| BT-13 | 21 Apr 1959 | Martinez Cherry |
Bennie Martinez, 52, a Station employee, and
his passenger, James C. Cherry, Jr., 42, a retired chief corpsman from
VX-5 were killed Thursday, April 21, when their light plane crashed after take-off from the Monache Meadows airstrip. |
||||
| 142792 | XE-8 | A-4B | VX-5 | 20 May 1959 | Wheels-up landing by LCdr. N. Jackson Gambrill after the nose wheel & fork sheared off on launch from the USS Hancock. | ||
| 139308 | FJ-4B | NAF | 12 June 1959 | 1S | SOC 1S 29 Jun 1960 | ||
|
55-2956 |
2956 |
YF-104A |
NAF |
15 June 1959 |
|
No USN history card as USAF. |
Cdr. Herk Camp had engine trouble on takeoff and ran off the end of the runway resulting in strike damage. |
|
139555 |
XE-4 |
FJ-4B |
VX-5 |
23 Sep 1959 |
|
11K1 |
SOC from damage other than accident or incident |
|
56-0740 |
6740 |
F-104A |
NAF |
22 Sep 1960 |
Casada |
No USN history card as USAF. |
USMC Capt. Howard O. Casada Jr. lost his life when his Starfighter crashed near the junction of Mt. Wilson and Palmdale Roads in the Angeles Natl. Forest during a routine Sidewinder test flight. The cause of the crash was thought to be oxygen depletion at altitude. |
|
130745 |
745 |
F4D-1 |
NAF |
21 Oct 1960 |
Graves |
1KA2 |
Lt. Jan M. Graves lost his life when his F4D-1 Skyray crashed on runway 21. From an altitude of about 100 feet the Ford seemed to go over in slow motion and then careened down the runway coming to rest just to the right of runway 21, about 6,000 ft. from the numbers. The cause was determined to have been a broken wire on the rudder system positioning feed back servo. The servo wire had excess solder "wicked" up into it which made it stiff and brittle resulting in it breaking due to vibration which caused the rudder to fully deflect just after lift-off. According to Louis Spencer ... as I recall there were two F4D Skyray's that were launched. The first F4D to take-off was flown by a highly experienced Navy Cdr. who was overseeing the first flight in a F4D by Lt. Jan Graves. I can't remember the Cdr's name. |
| 59-0120 | F-106A | USAF | 14 Feb 1961 | Biehunko | 1st Lt. Ernest F. Biehunko from the 329th FIS, George AFB, was killed when his F-106 crashed at the base of Pilot Knob15 miles SE of the Randsburg Wash Fire Station. | ||
|
56-0757 |
757 |
F-104A |
NAF |
07 Apr 1961 |
Hess |
No USN history card as USAF. |
USMC Capt. David L. Hess lost his life from injuries sustained on April 7th when his Starfighter crashed on takeoff from George AFB on a return flight to China Lake. According to Louis Spencer ... the cause was determined to be a failure of the George AFB flight line personnel to activate all of the circuit breakers which prevented the after burners from firing during the take-off. The afterburner not firing affected the F-104's take-off performance into a quartering headwind. |
|
145075 |
XE-3 |
A4D-2N |
VX-5 |
18 Apr 1961 |
|
1NA2 |
Lt. Georges E. "Frenchy" LeBlanc, a VX-5 pilot, ejected safely when his engine flamed out at an altitude of 11,000 feet over the Dallas, TX, area while LeBlanc, Lt. Paul Weitz, and Lt. Charles H . Brown were in flight from NOTS to Cherry Point, NC. He attempted two air starts and ejected at 4,000 feet. |
|
145672 |
|
HSS-1N |
NAF |
28 Apr 1961 |
|
17R1 |
SOC due to damage |
| 139937 | A4D-1 | NAF | 14 Mar 1962 | struck by ZUNIS during a test | |||
| 135233 | AD-6 | VX-5 | 07 Jun 1962 | 1S | SOC 02 Jul 1962 1S, result of damage | ||
|
143390 |
|
YF4H-1 |
NAF |
13 Aug 1962 |
0 |
1KA2 |
Cdr. Hal Wellman ejected following a hydraulics failure after take-off at an altitude of about 10,000 feet. Seat failed to separate before he hit the ground. |
|
127273 |
|
F9F-6K2 |
NAF |
17 Sep 1962 |
Wilson |
1MA2 |
Lt. Fred J. Wilson, 29, lost his life when he stalled his F9F-6K Cougar at the break – ended up a fireball that narrowly missed the fuel farm. An eyewitness was T. Herold who recalls that when he and the other Cougar Plane Capt.'s heard the returning flight on the radio they went out to watch them land. Wilson was #2 in a three plane formation that was coming out of the north to the south, and broke center field midway between the line shack and the drone hangar. The first one went well, but Lt. Wilson did a sharp bank to the left (almost a 90 degree turn) at about 800' alt. and almost immediately (it was that fast) plowed into the ground at about 200 knots and at a 90° plus angle impacted between the fuel farm and and the gate. |
|
145066 |
XE-2 |
A4D-2N |
VX-5 |
25 Sep 1962 |
0 |
1AA2 |
Cdr. Shelley B. Pittman, 40, VX-5 Weapons Officer ejected safely from A4D-2N BuNo 145066, Mystify 2, after the fuselage fuel cell ruptured and the engine flamed out. The aircraft crashed about 1.5 miles S. of the south shore of the Salton Sea and 1 one mile east of U.S. 99. USCG UF-1G Albatross c/n G-307, USAF s/n 51-7226, USCG s/n 7226 supported the rescue as did VX-5 A4D-2N Skyhawk BuNo 145112, Mystify 8. AAR 25 September 1962. The Pasadena Independent, Wednesday, 26 September 1962. |
|
138296 |
|
DT-28B |
NAF |
27 Mar 1963 |
0 |
1MA1 |
NAF project pilot Lt. David F. Callahan Jr., crash landed his two-place T-28B on Mirror Lake following an engine failure. Lt. Callahan was in the normal traffic pattern, a 1,500 ft. corridor between "B" Mountain and the housing area, when his engine failed completely. He made a 180 degree turn and headed his plane for Mirror Lake to avoid crashing in the housing area. Both Lt. Callahan and aviation mechanic Jim Dossey walked away without a scratch. |
| 56-0896 | F-104C | USAF | 12 Apr 1963 | 479th TFW crashed near Bicycle Lake and pilot rescued by NAF China Lake SAR. | |||
| Helo | USA | 12 Apr 1963 | Crashed near Bicycle Lake while attempting to recue USAF F-104 pilot, crew rescued by NAF China Lake SAR. | ||||
|
131045 |
|
QF-9G |
Drone |
16 Apr 1963 |
|
1MF1 |
SOC 26 Apr 1963 Target drone expenditure |
|
29581 |
XE-20 |
TC-45J |
VX-5 |
05 Apr 1964 |
Brock |
|
VX-5 USAF Maj. Thomas R. Brock (pilot), AN Hobart C. Hale (crew), AMSAN Edward L. Taylor and AMSAN Clarence E. Yates (passengers) lost their lives when at an altitude of 12,350' failed to clear a ridge line on Mt. Langley (long. 118-13.47W, lat. 36-27.55N). The flight went missing while returning to NAF China Lake from NAS Lemoore and wasn't found for nine days. |
| 151053 | A-4E | VA-164 | 10 Jun 1964 | Bir | 1AA2 | Ens. Frederick X. Bir, 25, of NAS Lemoore was killed when his Navy Skyhawk jet crashed 31 mile NW of China Lake. | |
|
127259 |
|
QF-9G |
Drone |
27 Oct 1964 |
0 |
1KA2 |
SOC due to accident (might be the one Lt. Callahan bailed out of when the throttle linkage disconnected in flight.) |
|
128151 |
|
QF-9G |
Drone |
12 Feb 1965 |
|
1KF2 |
SOC 01 Mar 1965 Target drone expenditure |
|
130959 |
|
QF-9G |
Drone |
17 Feb 1965 |
|
1KF2 |
Target drone expenditure |
|
130959 |
|
QF-9G |
Drone |
17 Feb 1965 |
|
1KF2 |
SOC 01 Mar 1965 Target drone expenditure |
|
128149 |
|
QF-9G |
Drone |
24 Feb 1965 |
|
1KF2 |
SOC 17 Mar 1965 Target drone expenditure |
|
148524 |
|
A-4C |
NAF |
11 Jun 1965 |
Mayfield |
1KA2 |
Lt. Douglas S. Mayfield lost his life on when his A-4C Skyhawk was struck by target debris while on a photo mission over "B" Range. Within seconds of the Walleye striking the intended radar trailer target, Lt. Mayfield's Skyhawk was struck in the starboard wing by debris (a wheel) from the target. The Skyhawk pitched slightly nose up and yawed left and almost immediately the starboard wing broke off. |
|
142787 |
|
A-4B |
NAF |
12 Aug 1965 |
0 |
|
LCdr. Bill Odman ejected at Dugway when he couldn’t recover the landing. Aircraft ran over the Welcome to Dugway sign and rolled to a stop at the end of the runway. Aircraft was disassembled, trucked to O&R Alameda & repaired. |
|
|
|
F-4 |
?? |
Circa 1965 |
|
|
Hit by own missile which crossed from port to stbd severing numerous hydraulic lines, wiring harnesses etc. Pilot declared an emergency and asked for the gear. Tower cleared him to runway 21 and he landed on 26 which doesn’t have arresting gear. Went off the end of the runway FOD both engines. Sat in the corner of hangar three for the better part of a year. |
|
|
|
QF-9 |
Drone |
Circa 1965 |
|
|
Touched down early and got behind the DT-28 drone controller. Porpoised several times as power was added before climbing vertically at full power to about 100’, stalled & crashed on runway 21 (might be the 15 Apr 1965 strike) |
|
|
|
QF-9 |
Drone |
Circa 1965 |
|
|
Failed to respond to commands from the DT-28 drone controller. When control was regained the drone controller put it in a nose down full power dive and it impacted NE of the airfield. |
|
|
|
QF-9 |
Drone |
Circa 1965 |
|
|
Started to roll to port while in formation with the DT-28B drone controller. The DT-28B pilot made a hasty exit and flew it into the ground. |
|
|
|
T-33 |
USAF |
Circa 1965 |
|
|
Crashed after landing with 1 full & 1 empty tip tank. Aircraft tipped up on the wing with the full tank and that main gear collapsed and it slid off the runway into the infield. Pilots exited while it was still sliding and hauled A in the opposite direction. |
|
150669 |
|
F-8E |
NAF |
Circa 1965 |
|
|
Sidewinder rail came off and impacted the stbd wing (completely through the droop) resulting in complete loss of hydraulics. |
|
152580 |
1 |
YA-7A |
LTV |
23 Mar 1966 |
|
No history card. |
Vought test pilot John Omvig was doing touch and goes and on the last one the #1 A-7 began to roll inverted and he ejected just before it rolled 90 deg. Those that saw it from closer up said he was about the height of a telephone pole when the chute deployed. The A-7 impacted on the golf course which was about 3 miles (straight line) SE of the approach end of the primary runway From Dick Atkins, Archives Director of the Vought Aircraft Heritage Museum, the cause was pilot error when the hydraulic system was switched off (flight test configuration) and loss of control resulted. John ejected and barely made it out alive. He was later killed when XC-142A 62-5921 crashed 10 May 1967. |
| N3316D | Cessna 180 | 30 May 1966 | Wind with gusts to 50 knots blew aircraft to left at end of landing roll - substantial damage. | ||||
|
132598 |
|
AD-5N |
NAF |
July 1966 |
|
|
VX-5 USMC pilot was training a USAF pilot for short field heavy weight takeoffs. Failed to fully increase the prop pitch on a very hot windless day and the aircraft stalled. |
|
138952 |
|
A-3B |
NAF |
15 Mar 1967 |
Reardon |
|
Cdr. William L. "Mike" Reardon, LCdr. Robert R. Kornegay, 32, and ADJ-1 Vernon K. Whipkey, 30, lost their lives when their A-3B Skywarrior crashed near Robtown in Pickaway county during an unscheduled GCA approach to Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, OH. They were on their way to Quonset Point, RI to pick up a weapon that had been brought there a month earlier. |
|
152900 |
XE- |
A-6A |
VX-5 |
28 Mar 1967 |
|
1S |
VX-5 Det. Oceana A-6A Intruder piloted by Cmdr. Robert Bristol and bombardier-navigator Lt Norman Czuchra crashed into the Atlantic Ocean just offshore from Oregon Inlet NC, 50 miles south of Norfolk. Both pilots ejected safely with minor injuries. |
|
|
N9771X |
Cessna 210B |
Civilian |
01 Aug 1967 |
3 |
|
collided with VX-5 A-7A BuNo 152674 over Owens Peak. |
|
152674 |
XE-16 |
A-7A |
VX-5 |
01 Aug 1967 |
Ewall |
|
LCdr. Tom Ewall and three civilians lost their lives when his A-7A Corsair II (doing passive Shrike runs) collided with the civilian Cessna 210B (N9771X) over Owens Peak. |
|
153203 |
XE- |
A-7A |
VX-5 |
08 Jan 1969 |
0 |
1S |
mid-air collision with A-7A BuNo 154347 while the squadron was training at MCAS Yuma, AZ. Pilots Lt. D. W. Parsons and Lt. E. D. Gilberson parachuted to safety following the collision. One of the planes crashed on Highway 95 near Ave. G, west of Somerton, carving out a ten foot crater in the road and narrowly missing a car. The other hit in an open field about three miles away, south of Somerton. |
|
154347 |
XE- |
A-7A |
VX-5 |
08 Jan 1969 |
0 |
1S |
mid-air collision with A-7A 153203 while the squadron was training at MCAS Yuma, AZ. Pilots Lt. D. W. Parsons and Lt. E. D. Gilberson parachuted to safety following the collision. One of the planes crashed on Highway 95 near Ave. G, west of Somerton, carving out a ten foot crater in the road and narrowly missing a car. The other hit in an open field about three miles away, south of Somerton. |
|
50852 |
7R |
C-54P |
Moffett |
05 Jun 1969 |
0 |
1S |
ex USAAF 42-72324 - Nose wheel collapsed and broke it’s back on landing at NAF China Lake after a flight from NAS Los Alamitos, CA. Aircraft SOC at China Lake and used as a target. |
| N8714S | Cessna 150F | 10 Jan 1970 | Contival Gilbertson |
China Lake Flying Club Cessna 150 was destroyed with 2 fatalities (John S. Contivil, 20, of Hollister and Dennis Gilbertson, 20, of Minneapolis) when it stalled and crashed near the Inyokern airport after the pilot in command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed. | |||
|
152015 |
XE-6 |
A-4E |
VX-5 |
09 Feb 1970 |
0 |
1S |
USAF Maj. Jerry Hoblit ejected safely after a malfunction of the AGM-14 ZAP six inch rocket during a flight test. ZAP originally went by HART (Hypervelocity Aircraft Rocket, Tactical.) |
|
153494 |
|
TA-4F |
NAF |
02 Apr 1970 |
Hall |
S3 |
Lt. Gerald Hall, 30, was killed when his TA-4F Skyhawk rolled inverted and crashed west of the runway during a landing at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base in Belton, MO. ADJ-2 Leroy Neville, the backseater, survived after ejecting sideways and hitting the ground after a single swing of his chute. Lt. Hall had a drop tank on the center line and a 'special' camera on 2 or 4 and a blivet on the opposite hard point (2 or 4.) Lt. Hall was in the 'break' for a 360 overhead when the blivet peeled jamming one of the slats. |
|
153503 |
|
TA-4F |
NAF |
09 Jul 1970 |
0 |
1S |
Lt. Wayne T. Oxford ejected safely and the back seater Lt. Bill Weiler was severely injured when they impacted the runway while simulating flame-out approaches. |
|
144290 |
|
QF-9J |
Drone |
27 May 1970 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
138355 |
|
DT-28B |
NAF |
22 Jun 1970 |
|
1S |
Lt(jg). David L. "Troll" Tomlinson (pilot) and LCdr. William A. Coltrin (32, rear seat) walked away from the crash of a DT-28B when the engine failed on a routine flight from China Lake to NAS Lemoore and landed short of the runway at Porterville Municipal Airport. |
|
141666 |
|
QF-9J |
Drone |
23 Jul 1970 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
156744 |
|
A-7C |
NAF |
29 Jan 1971 |
|
|
wheels up landing 29 Jan 1971 - Status - F30 or H30; 02 Feb 1971 - Status – 030; 15 Mar 1971 - Status - EA0; 15 Mar 1971 - NARF - Alameda |
|
155935 |
|
QT-33A |
Drone |
09 Jul 1971 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
155940 |
|
QT-33A |
Drone |
19 Aug 1971 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
144312 |
|
QF-9J |
Drone |
23 Sep 1971 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
151972 |
|
F-111B |
|
dd Dec 1971 |
|
|
scrapped at China Lake Aircraft Survivability Laboratory |
| 154528 | NM-5.. | A-7B | VA-155 | 14 Apr 1972 | Cdr. Steven R. Briggs, 31, (NAS Lemoore) was unhurt when he ejected over the Mojave Desert 15 miles north of NWC China Lake when his A-7B Corsair experienced mechanical trouble and crashed nearby. | ||
|
155922 |
|
QT-33A |
Drone |
07 Jun 1972 |
|
|
|
|
155963 |
|
QT-33A |
Drone |
07 Jun 1972 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
158364 |
NE |
F-4J |
VF-154 |
26 Jun 1972 |
|
|
Collided with F-4J BuNo 158379 over Coso Range during simulated air strike. 1 fatal, 3 survived. |
|
158379 |
NE |
F-4J |
VF-154 |
26 Jun 1972 |
|
|
Collided with F-4J BuNo 158364 over Coso Range during simulated air strike. 1 fatal, 3 survived. |
|
141652 |
|
QF-9J |
Drone |
13 Dec 1972 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
152879 |
|
NOV-10A |
NAF |
07 Jun 1973 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
141649 |
|
QF-9J |
Drone |
20 Jan 1974 |
|
1SO |
SOC due to damage |
|
158023 |
|
A-7E |
NAF |
25 Jun 1974 |
Esposito |
|
Lt. John P. Esposito, 27, military advisor to the Weapons Planning Group lost his life when his A-7E Corsair II crashed three miles north of Baker Range while validating a new computerized weapons delivery system. |
| 156759 | XE- | A-7C | VX-5 | 24 Jul 1974 | 1S | Cdr. William C. Smith, the prospective VX-5 Vampires XO ejected safely from A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156759 at noon last Wednesday while flying a routine proiect mission. Cdr. Smith, who is a 19 year veteran in the U.S. Navy, bailed out over G Range, in an area nine miles NE of the Naval Air Facility. He was flying at 5,600 ft. at the time. Cdr. Smith reported to VX-5 recently from the Light Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, NAS Lemoore. | |
|
156881 |
NJ-263 |
A-7E |
VA-122 |
12 Feb 1975 |
Hormel |
|
Lt(jg). Rick C. Hormel, 24, was killed when his A-7E Corsair crashed at an altitude of 4,200 ft. in a mountainous area about 10 miles north of Owens Lake while he was on a routine training flight. The NAF SAR helicopter piloted by Cdr. J.W. Ehl with Lt. Al Detwiler, as co-pilot responded to the crash. Also aboard were NAF flight surgeon Dr. G. R. Gibbons; ADJ2 C.R. Cass and Civil Service photographer Sam Wyatt. |
|
159299 |
|
A-7E |
VX-5 |
30 Aug 1976 |
|
|
A-7E Corsair II, piloted by LCdr. Dennis V. McGinn of Attleboro, MA struck A-6E Intruder BuNo 152953 from below during a night approach and crashed inside the fence near Inyokern Rd. at an altitude of about 250 feet. Pilot ejected. |
|
152593 |
XE-20 |
A-6E |
VX-5 |
30 Aug 1976 |
|
|
A-6E Intruder piloted by LCdr. Rodney A. Bankson of Bakersfield, CA and bombardier-navigator LCdr. Donald A. Erskine of Teaneck, NJ. was struck from below by A-7E Corsair BuNo 159299 during a night approach and crashed inside the fence near Inyokern Rd. at an altitude of about 250 feet. Crew ejected. |
| N20441 | Cessna 172M | 25 Mar 1977 | NWC engineer William W. Baer, 47, was killed when he misjudged his altitude in IFR conditions and crashed about 50 feet south of State Route 178 and half-mile east of State Route 14 while shooting touch and go landings at the Inyokern airport. | ||||
|
73-0709 |
MO |
F-111F |
USAF |
21 Apr 1977 |
|
|
USAF Capt. Peter G. Ganotis, 29, and the weapons system operator Capt. Harold L. Petersen, 35, 366th TFW, Mountain Home, ID, ejected when their F-111F crashed while conducting low-level tactical training in the Coso target area |
|
140734 |
N8244E |
Beech T-34B |
NWC |
29 May 1978 |
|
|
Flying Club s/n BG-68 crashed at China Lake when it hit the runway lip on landing |
| C-141 | 63 MAW | 1979 | Received substantial damage after a hydraulic failure caused a brake fire after landing. | ||||
|
69-17000 |
|
OV-1C |
Ft. Rucker |
05 Apr 1979 |
Monk |
|
USA CWO Donald Monk and USA CWO Michael Mooring lost their lives when their OV-1D Mohawk crashed in the Randsburg Wash area while temporarily operating out of NWC China Lake. They were conducting a test when their Mohawk went into a high speed stall at low altitude and crashed. Both were from Ft. Rucker, Alabama. |
|
158273 |
|
UH-1N |
NWC |
10 Aug 1979 |
|
1SO |
Applied Photography Branch photographer Sam Wyatt suffered severe injuries and was taken to Ridgecrest Community Hospital when NWC China Lake UH-1N Huey BuNo 158273 made a forced landing near Airport Lake on G2 Power Road, 11 miles north of the main gate, China Lake, 20 July 1979. Pilot LCdr. Dale E. Haan and PO2 Paul T. Perotta suffered back injuries and were transferred to the Long Beach Naval Hospital and PO2 Michael Szydlowski was treated for back injuries. Co-pilot Lt. Dennis K. Wilcox, Parachute Systems Dept. Lt. Ronald S. Dargo, VX-5 Vampires Ens. Andres Brugal and CPO Ron Allen were treated as needed and released. The four most seriously injured were airlifted by a HS-11 UH-1N Huey crewed by pilot Cdr. Douglas Huff, co-pilot Cdr. Phillip F. Duffy and PO1 M.A. McCoy that was in the area when the accident occurred. The NWC helicopter was heavily damaged in the accident. Rocketeer photo. SOC due to damage |
|
55-5073 |
|
F-86F |
NWC |
13 Aug 1979 |
Faller |
w/o |
LCdr. Theodore "Ted" Faller lost his life when his QF-86F Sabre suffered an engine failure moments after takeoff. Ted managed to bring the stricken aircraft down in a vacant lot 600 yards south of the Ridgecrest Heights Elementary School, later renamed Faller Elementary. |
|
156748 |
XE-08 |
A-7C |
VX-5 |
21 Nov 1979 |
Leum |
|
LCdr. Peter "Pete" Leum and Ens. Steven D. Herning lost their lives when their VX-5 TA-7C Corsair II crashed while simulating close air support for troops in field training at Ft. Irwin. The chase plane/wingman was VX-5 CO Capt. Paul D. Stephenson flying VX-5 A-7E, XE-06, BuNo 160724. According to Capt. Stephenson and the accident investigation team XE-08 was about 100 ft. off the deck at 360 knots. when the plane suffered a catastrophic engine failure and exploded in mid air, so fast that the wing-tips blew off and the plane inverted scattering wreckage and debris over a mile with the engine continuing another several hundred feet beyond the debris field. |
|
159262 |
NH-412 |
A-7E |
VA-195 |
11 Sep 1980 |
Watkins |
|
Lt(jg). James David Watkins was killed when his plane crashed SW of Darwin in the northern Coso range area within NWC boundaries while on a routine practice bombing mission using inert practice ordnance. The NWC SAR helicopter piloted by LCdr. Byron Dieckman and another UH-IN helicopter from VX-5 piloted by Marine Corps Major Richard Peasley responded to the crash. |
|
|
|
Mitchell Wing B-10 |
NWC |
30 Sep 1980 |
Becker |
|
U.S. Navy Commander Dennis E. Becker lost his life in an accident involving a Mitchell Wing B-10 powered Ultralight during a familiarization flight for a technology demonstration and utilization project being conducted for the Navy Science Assistance Program. |
|
159271 |
XE-03 |
A-7E |
VX-5 |
05 Nov 1980 |
|
1SO |
SOC due to damage |
|
58-1194 |
|
QT-38A |
Drone |
19 Nov 1980 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
58-1195 |
|
QT-38A |
Drone |
21 Nov 1980 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
59-1596 |
|
QT-38A |
Drone |
20 Dec 1980 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
154458 |
XE-07 |
A-7B |
VX-5 |
dd mm 1981 |
|
|
Reported to have crashed in New Mexico in 80' or 81' and was eventually
put back into service (no record of this in the history cards). |
|
59-1600 |
|
QT-38A |
Drone |
03 Mar 1981 |
|
1S |
SOC due to damage |
|
153026 |
WS |
F-4N |
VMFA-323 |
15 Apr 1981 |
McAnnally |
|
USMC Maj. John C. McAnnally, 38, died of multiple injuries at Ft. Irwin Army Base Hospital after he and 1st Lt. Dennis Viera, 26, both from the 3rd Marine Air Wing at El Toro ejected over Leach Lake Range, east of China Lake. Their aircraft crashed in an uninhabited area of the Army's Ft. Irwin complex, approximately 40 miles east of the NWC main gate. |
|
158010 |
NG |
A-7E |
VA-195 |
03 Jun 1982 |
Decker |
1SO |
Lt. Richard R. Decker, VA-195 Lemoore, was killed when his A-7E Corsair II crashed near Grapevine Canyon in the Hunter Mountain area east of Lone Pine. A NWC SAR helicopter crew consisting of LCdr. Chip Lancaster, Lt. Dennis Wilcox, AMS3 Mike Clenney, and AO3 Tim Hill responded to the crash. |
|
155444 |
XE-10 |
OV-10A |
VX-5 |
23 Oct 1983 |
Reeves |
|
USMC Maj. Harold Reeves lost his life when he ejected over the Sierras from his OV-10A Bronco. Maj. Reeves and his replacement, USMC Maj. Timothy Hill, were making a return flight from NAS Lemoore when an aircraft malfunction made it necessary for them to eject. |
|
157500 |
NL-401 |
A-7E |
VA-27 |
11 Jul 1984 |
Bussey |
|
LCdr. John Kenneth Bussey, Jr., 38, was killed when his plane went down 47 miles NE of the airfield. The NWC SAR helicopter piloted by LCdr. Buz Massengale and Lt. Greg Friedrichsen effected the recovery. Also aboard were Capt. Ken Koskella (NRMC branch clinic,) and aircrew members AD2 M. J. Maironis, AEAN M. S. Keenan, AOAN Jeffery Smith, and HM3 M. J . Buckelew. A fire caused by the crash was extinguished by a BLM fire crew. |
|
157250 |
XF-2 |
F-4S |
VX-4 |
08 Aug 1984 |
Bottrell |
|
Lt. Mark Steven Bottrell, 29, was killed when his VX-4 F-4 Phantom crashed in a remote region of the Panamint Butte area of the Death Valley National Monument. The RIO, LCdr. Frank H. Brown, ejected and was picked up by LCdr. Buzz Massengale, NWC SAR helo pilot, shortly after NWC was notified of the crash. The crash reportedly started a blaze that scorched 640 acres in the Death Valley National Monument. |
| 152848 | NTA-4J | NWC | 06 Nov 1985 | 1SO | Cdr. Ron Miller and Maj. Tom White, USMC, safely ejected when the aircraft went out of control after a loud explosion at 14,000 feet 30 miles east of Richmond, VA on departure from NATC Patuxent. | ||
| 154445 | ND-404 | A-7B | VA-304 | 27 Mar 1986 | Harris | Lt. John E. Harris, 31, from NAS Alameda was killed in a crash during reserve training near NWC China Lake. The A-7B Corsair jet crashed for unknown reasons in the desert near Owens Valley, north of the weapons center. | |
|
160858 |
NL- |
A-7E |
VA-122 |
20 May 1986 |
|
1SO |
Lt. Victor E. Wagoner, 32, an instructor pilot from VA-122 at NAS Lemoore ejected from his A-7 Corsair II Tuesday afternoon and landed near Haiwee Reservoir, where he was picked up by the NWC's SAR helicopter crewed by Lt. Tim Cleary, pilot; Lt. Mark Eoff, co-pilot; AMH3 John Hoffman, AD Richard Johnston and HM3 Jim Childers. The plane crashed near Cactus Flat east of Haiwee Reservoir, about two miles from where he was found. |
|
157474 |
XE-02 |
A-7E |
VX-5 |
22 Oct 1986 |
|
1SO |
AD3 Maria T. Stults performed a low-power turnup on VX-5 Vampires
A-7E Corsair II BuNo 157474, XE-02, on the ramp west of Hangar One.
Following the start the aircraft went unassisted to full military
power, broke the tie-down chain, jumped over the chocks, traveled
150 feet across the ramp with the brakes locked and impacted the
west hangar doors. After unhinging the doors XE-02, and the doors,
continued into the hangar where XE-02 and the doors impacted VX-5
A-6E Intruder BuNo 154124, XE-24, which impacted VX-5 A-7E Corsair
II BuNo 160722, XE-05, and damaged the engine from VX-5 A-4M Skyhawk
BuNo 160245, XE-16, which was on an engine stand. Back on the line
VX-5 A-4M Skyhawks BuNo 158426, XE-14, and BuNo 158169, XE-15, and
VX-5 A-7E Corsair II BuNo 160724, XE-06, suffered blast damage from
XE-02. Some debris was found as far back as the 6th stage in one of
the engines. XE-02 was SOC 05 November, 1986.
|
| 0020 | N2520X | P206 | civilian | 22 May 1987 | Marvin (Andy) Andelin & Jim Nenneman | A USAF 6512th TS AFFTC T-38A and a Pacific Aerographics Cessna 206 collided in mid-air during VFR operations in a Military Operations Area (MOA). The overtaking T-38 collided with the Cessna from the right. The Cessna was on a local government contract terrain photo mission and believed to have departed from China Lake. The Collision occurred at about 8,700' MSL and both planes plunged into a mountain in the Cameron Canyon area, 2 miles north of Tehachapi Airport, about 30 miles west of the Air Force base. Both officers aboard the two-seat jet and both men in the light plane were killed. | |
| 62-3639 | ED | T-38A | USAF | 22 May 1987 | Maj. Michael J. Keane & Lt. Gregory Hoglan | (see above) | |
| XF | F/A-18 | VX-4 | 8 May 1989 | Ellis | LCdr. John Timothy Ellis (Royal Navy), 35, was killed when his F/A-18 Hornet collided with another F/A-18 Hornet piloted by Lt. Ken Houck who ejected safely. One of the Hornets crashed in the Inyo mountains 10 miles NE of Independence and the other crashed 4.5 miles east of Olancha. | ||
|
159991 |
NJ |
A-7E |
VA-122 |
22 Feb 1990 |
|
|
Lt. John McLaran ejected after in-flight malfunction during a routine training mission and was picked up by an NWC helicopter and later transported to the Antelope Valley Hospital. The plane went down in the southern part of Saline Valley. |
|
55-5890 |
|
QF-86F |
NWC |
28 Mar 1990 |
Prusinski |
|
Lt. Mark A. Prucinski, 28, lost his life when his QF-86F Sabre
impacted the ground in a remote area of Panamint valley, approx. 23
miles NE of NWC China in Searles Valley, between Wildrose Road and
Slate Mtn. (N 35.57.00, W 117. 21.00) while engaged in a VFR test
readiness flight. The aircraft crashed on the backside of a
ridgeline (1,500 feet south and 150 feet below the ridgeline) after
attempting a low-altitude crossing. There was no attempt to eject. |
| N9YT | Cessna T210N | 26 Feb 1992 | Kiepe Melton |
Lt. Kent M. Kiepe, 29, and Lt(jg). Craig R. Melton, 24, were killed when the Cessna 210 rented by the Navy and based at Pt. Mugu crashed in the San Gabriel Mountains while on a flight from Pt. Mugu to NAWS China Lake. The crash site was seven miles east of I-5 and south of Lake Hughes Road. While over mountainous terrain the engine sustained a catastrophic crankshaft failure. The pilot elected to proceed towards higher terrain bypassing lower and more suitable emergency landing areas. Internal communications indicated they planned to stall the airplane prior to landing on an upward sloping ridge. The pilot misjudged the altitude when he stalled the airplane. | |||
|
|
XE- |
AH-1W |
VX-5 |
01 May 1992 |
|
|
Rotor head and transmission broke loose and aircraft crashed from 8 feet while rotor climbed to 100 feet. |
|
|
N742FN |
MU2B-36 |
NWC |
18 May 1992 |
Garnett |
|
Lt. David W. Garnett, 33, and AEAN Lorenzo Rodriguez, 24, lost their lives when their Navy leased MU2B-36 Solitaire crashed at Edwards Air Force Base where they were going in support of a China Lake project. Survivors in critical condition are AO3 Herbert Desrosiers, age 21, of Tyngsboro, MA; AO2 Bill Achenbach, age 24, of Clearmont, WY; and Larry Steimer and Wayne Lee both of Ridgecrest. Those listed in serious or guarded condition are AO3 Roosevelt Rankins, age 21, of Greenville, MS; AOAN Mike Nienaber, age 21, of Cincinnat, OH; and Denis Campbell of the Lake Isabella area. A Navy investigation found that the pilot had 50 seconds to maneuver out of the downwash of a near-collision with an F-16 and failed to do so. |
| 24-675 | N5607P | PA-24-250 | Flying Club | 22 Feb 1993 | Lt. Dennis Johnson, assigned to the NAWCWD, was piloting the Piper Commanche when they lost power in the engine and crashed near Red Mountain with substantial damage. Johnson, and his passenger, Richard Muse walked out and telephoned the Naval Air Weapons Station for help. | ||
|
162966 |
DD-87 |
AV-8B |
VX-31 |
27 Sep 1994 |
|
|
MAD XO Maj. Brooke Paulger ejected after engine failure during a check flight. Crashed six mile SE of the NAWS back gate. |
|
|
N73240 |
Bell 47G-3B |
civilian |
07 Feb 1995 |
|
|
Crashed on the range while herding horses for the BLM. During a descending turn the main rotor struck a Joshua tree and the aircraft rolled over. |
| 164548 | DD-89 | AV-8B+ | VX-31 | 24 Jun 1996 | USMC Maj. James G. Derdall , 34, an AV-8B project pilot, suffered only minor injuries after ejecting from his disabled Harrier last Monday at about 1:50 p.m. Debris from the Harrier was limited to a small area on Baker Range roughly a half mile inside the Station's western boundary. | ||
|
158770 |
018 |
HH-1N |
NWC |
18 Feb 1998 |
Mondon |
|
Lt. Daniel F. Mondon, 29, Lt. Bruce A. Williams, 36, AET-3 Agustin Benitez-Rodriguez, 23, AMS-3 Michael S. Monaghan, 21, and ADAN Dalyn Wyatt lost their lives when their SAR HH-1N Huey struck a wire & crashed in California's Sequoia National Forest. |
|
43+36 |
|
Tornado |
Luftwaffe |
19 Oct 1998 |
Kugler |
|
Luftwaffe Captain Bernd Kugler (pilot) and Luftwaffe Captain Andreas Macha (weapons systems operator) lost their lives when their Tornado IDS 43+36 plunged into a ground installation at Sea Site Three on Echo Range. Although the Tornado was assigned to the German Air Force Tactical Training Center at Holloman AFB, the crew came from the Jagdbombergeschwader at Memmingen, Germany. Six persons on the ground were injured or suffered smoke inhalation. The Tornado was on a routine training mission at the time of the crash. |
| 95-2002 | RQ-4A Global Hawk | USAF | 29 Mar 1999 | NOLO | Global Hawk UAV #2 inadvertently received a test signal for flight termination from a test range on Nellis Air Force Base, NV, which was outside the frequency coordination zone in which the UAV's mission was being flown. This caused Global Hawk to go into a termination maneuver involving a pre-programmed, rolling, vertical descent from an altitude of 41,000 feet onto the South Range. | ||
|
162721 |
XE-745 |
AV-8B |
VX-5 |
30 Aug 1999 |
Leffler |
|
USMC Col. Kevin Leffler lost his life when his AV-8A Harrier crashed during a routine test flight in Saline Valley, Death Valley National Park, CA. Col. Leffler ejected into high winds over Death Valley National Park, dropped into a canyon and died when his head struck a boulder. |
|
N32229 |
LJ-49 |
Beech 65-90 |
civilian |
05 May 2000 |
|
|
Aerospace Equipment Research Organization Aircraft experienced a loss of control after becoming entangled with a deploying parachute during cruise flight at 20,000 feet and 180 knots. |
| N766C | SA-227AC | contract | 15 June 2000 | Runway incursion between Metro-liner & naval aircraft at runway intersection at NAWS. | |||
| 165305 | DD | AV-8B | VX-31 | 15 June 2000 | Runway incursion between Metro-liner & naval aircraft at runway intersection at NAWS. | ||
| dd Nov 2000 | A prototype Northrop Grumman robotic helicopter crashed last month during a test flight at China Lake | ||||||
|
78-0100 |
ED |
F-16B |
USAF |
17 Jul 2001 |
George |
|
U.S. Air Force Maj. Aaron George, and civilian photographer Mr. Judson Brohmer, from Edwards AFB, lost their lives when their F-16B Falcon (78-0100) crashed on Echo Range during photo/chase sortie from Edwards AFB. |
|
158553 |
DD |
HH-1N |
NWC |
28 Mar 2002 |
Bayer |
|
LCdr. Jason “Pooh Bear” Bayer and AD-2 Charles Clint King Chaco lost their lives when their U.S. Navy HH-1N Huey helicopter crashed into a crevice near the peak of Split Mountain, in the Sequoia National Forest, killing two crew members and injuring four. |
|
164007 |
XE-401 |
F/A-18C |
VX-9 |
17 Dec 2003 |
|
|
Left the runway while landing and the pilot ejected. Pilot was uninjured, the Hornet was SOC 08 July 2005. |
| XE | AH-1W | VX-9 | 26 Feb 2004 | Main rotor blades struck tower at low altitude, no injuries. | |||
|
165662 |
NJ-170 |
F/A-18E |
VFA-122 |
18 Jul 2005 |
Clark |
|
NAS Lemoore based VFA-122 F/A-18F Super Hornet (BuNo 165670) and VFA-122 Super Hornet F/A-18E (BuNo 165662) collided over China Lake weapons testing ground (35 mi NE of Ridgecrest) during a fighter maneuvering training flight. Lt. Bruce L. Clark of Orange Park, FL, died in the accident. Lt. Noel Sawatzky and Lt. John Bonenfant were recovered by search and rescue crews. |
|
165670 |
NJ-114 |
F/A-18F |
VFA-122 |
18 Jul 2005 |
0 |
|
Collided with VFA-122 F/A-18E BuNo 165662 during a fighter maneuvering training flight, crew ejected. |
|
|
N6004X |
Mooney M20A |
civilian |
01 Dec 2005 |
|
|
Made a hard landing on a road after losing engine power. |
| ZJ943 | FGR.4 Typhoon | RAF | 23 Apr 2008 | 0 | Wheels-up landing | ||
| 166856 | E/A-18G | VX-9 | 17 Nov 2008 | In-flight left engine fire. Nellis AFB. | |||
| 166463 | F/A-18F | VFA-122 | 13 Oct 2009 | Arrested landing at NAWS China Lake after in-flight engine fire. |
|
Category (1st position) |
Employment (2nd position) |
Cause (3rd position) |
Disposition (4th position) |
|
1 - Strike due to damage |
FLIGHT NOT IN FLIGHT: |
NOT ENEMY ACTION INCIDENT TO FLIGHT: NOT INCIDENT TO FLIGHT: ENEMY ACTION INCIDENT TO FLIGHT: NOT INCIDENT TO FLIGHT: |
APPLICABLE TO STRICKEN AIRCRAFT: APPLICABLE TO DAMAGED AIRCRAFT: |