McCoy - McCoy

On March 31, 1972 at 11:20 AM, McCoy - McCoy experienced a crash involving Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near McCoy AFB Florida.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a city crash site.

7 people were known to be on board, 8 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 114.3%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 1.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The crew was completing a local training flight at McCoy AFB, Orlando, Florida. En route, a fire erupted on engine n°7 and the captain decided to return to McCoy AFB for an emergency landing. On final approach to runway 18R, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames onto several houses located one mile north of the airfield. The aircraft and four houses were totally destroyed and all seven crew members were killed. On ground, eight people were seriously injured, among them seven children. Three days after the accident, Anthony Ellington aged 10 died from his injuries. Crew: Cpt Wendell W. Campbell, pilot, Cpt Barry E. Applebee, copilot, 1st Lt Robert Heatherly, navigator, Lt Col George P. Gamache, navigator, Maj James J. Hammons, Maj William E. Kesler, M/Sgt Allen H. Murray.

Aircraft reference details include registration 56-0625, MSN 17308, year of manufacture 1956.