Columbus - Columbus

The aircraft was engaged in a training mission and was taxing from an unlit ramp towards the runway when it collided with a second USAF KC-135 registered 63-7980. The airplane continued for about 200 yards before coming to rest in flames on a grassy area. Three crew members were injured while two others were killed. The aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Flight / Schedule

Columbus - Columbus

Registration

63-7989

MSN

18606/645

Year of Manufacture

1963

Date

March 8, 1973 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Taxiing

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Columbus-Rickenbacker (Lockbourne AFB) Ohio

Region

North America • United States of America

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On March 8, 1973 at 12:00 AM, Columbus - Columbus experienced a crash involving Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Columbus-Rickenbacker (Lockbourne AFB) Ohio.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was taxiing at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

5 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 40.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was engaged in a training mission and was taxing from an unlit ramp towards the runway when it collided with a second USAF KC-135 registered 63-7980. The airplane continued for about 200 yards before coming to rest in flames on a grassy area. Three crew members were injured while two others were killed. The aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration 63-7989, MSN 18606/645, year of manufacture 1963.

Fatalities

Total

2

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The aircraft was engaged in a training mission and was taxing from an unlit ramp towards the runway when it collided with a second USAF KC-135 registered 63-7980. The airplane continued for about 200 yards before coming to rest in flames on a grassy area. Three crew members were injured while two others were killed. The aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

3

Fatality Rate

40.0%

Known people on board: 5

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Columbus - Columbus

Flight Type

Training

Flight Phase

Taxiing

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

63-7989

MSN

18606/645

Year of Manufacture

1963

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