Alamogordo - Alamogordo

The crew departed Alamogordo on a fire fighting mission in the region of Socorro. During a second pass at low altitude, the airplane contacted trees and crashed in flames. Both pilots were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Alamogordo - Alamogordo

Registration

N73648

MSN

32505

Year of Manufacture

1944

Date

July 12, 1972 at 04:05 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Fire fighting

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Socorro New Mexico

Region

North America • United States of America

Coordinates

34.0573°, -106.8931°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On July 12, 1972 at 04:05 PM, Alamogordo - Alamogordo experienced a crash involving Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, operated by Black Hills Aviation, with the event recorded near Socorro New Mexico.

The flight was categorized as fire fighting and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew departed Alamogordo on a fire fighting mission in the region of Socorro. During a second pass at low altitude, the airplane contacted trees and crashed in flames. Both pilots were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N73648, MSN 32505, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 34.0573°, -106.8931°.

Fatalities

Total

2

Crew

2

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The crew departed Alamogordo on a fire fighting mission in the region of Socorro. During a second pass at low altitude, the airplane contacted trees and crashed in flames. Both pilots were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 2

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Alamogordo - Alamogordo

Flight Type

Fire fighting

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

N73648

MSN

32505

Year of Manufacture

1944