52-2700

Few minutes after takeoff from Walker AFB, while climbing by night, a propeller blade detached from the engine number two, penetrated the fuselage and pierced a fuel tank. The aircraft caught fire, exploded and crashed in a desert area located 8 miles south of the airbase. All 11 crew members were killed.

Flight / Schedule

52-2700

Registration

52-2700

MSN

16731

Year of Manufacture

1952

Date

June 26, 1956 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Desert

Crash Location

Walker AFB New Mexico

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

33.1329°, -104.5433°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On June 26, 1956 at 12:00 AM, 52-2700 experienced a crash involving Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Walker AFB New Mexico.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a desert crash site.

11 people were known to be on board, 11 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 11, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Few minutes after takeoff from Walker AFB, while climbing by night, a propeller blade detached from the engine number two, penetrated the fuselage and pierced a fuel tank. The aircraft caught fire, exploded and crashed in a desert area located 8 miles south of the airbase. All 11 crew members were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration 52-2700, MSN 16731, year of manufacture 1952.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 33.1329°, -104.5433°.

Fatalities

Total

11

Crew

11

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

Few minutes after takeoff from Walker AFB, while climbing by night, a propeller blade detached from the engine number two, penetrated the fuselage and pierced a fuel tank. The aircraft caught fire, exploded and crashed in a desert area located 8 miles south of the airbase. All 11 crew members were killed.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

11

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 11

Operational Details

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Desert

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

52-2700

MSN

16731

Year of Manufacture

1952

Similar Plane Crashes

May 2, 1918 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The single engine airplane departed Dayton-McCook Field for a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing both occupants. Crew: Maj Oscar Brindley, Lt Col Henry Damm.

June 19, 1918 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

Lt. Frank Stuart Patterson, son and nephew of the co-founders of National Cash Register, is killed in the crash of his DH.4M, AS-32098, at Wilbur Wright Field during a flight test of a new mechanism for synchronizing machine gun and propeller, when a tie rod breaks during a dive from 15,000 feet (4,600 m), causing the wings to separate from the aircraft. Wishing to recognize the contributions of the Patterson family (owners of NCR) the area of Wright Field east of Huffman Dam (including Wilbur Wright Field, Fairfield Air Depot, and the Huffman Prairie) is renamed Patterson Field on 6 July 1931, in honor of Lt. Patterson.

November 9, 1918 at 12:00 AM

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances.

November 12, 1918 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The crew was completing a training mission. At an altitude of about 4,000 feet, the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in an open field near Everman-Barron Field Airport. A crew was killed and the second occupants was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

November 14, 1918 at 12:00 AM

U.S. Air Mail Service

De Havilland DH.4

Crashed following an engine failure. Pilot fate unknown.

November 20, 1918 at 12:00 PM

United States Signal Corps - USSC

De Havilland DH.4

The accident occurred in unknown circumstances.