59-2600

On July 8, 1972 at 05:25 AM, 59-2600 experienced a crash involving Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Andersen AFB All Guam Island.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 16.7%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The crew was engaged in a military mission to Vietnam and departed Andersen Air Base in Guam by night. While climbing in poor weather conditions, the airplane became unstable. The pilot-in-command elected to stabilize the airplane making a level off but eventually, the crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the aircraft crashed into the sea and was destroyed. Few hours later, five crew members were found and evacuated. Unfortunately, a six occupant (Lt Col James Lloyd Vaughan) was missing. His dead body was found 42 days later on a beach on Yap Island.

Aircraft reference details include registration 59-2600, MSN 464363, year of manufacture 1959.