Kirkland - Nellis

On September 14, 1977 at 11:48 PM, Kirkland - Nellis experienced a crash involving Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Kirtland AFB New Mexico.

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

20 people were known to be on board, 20 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 15, passenger fatalities: 15, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. En route from Kirtland AFB to Nellis AFB, the four engine airplane crashed less than three minutes after a night takeoff in a mountainous area located in the Manzano Mountain Range, about 5 miles east of Kirtland AFB. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 20 occupants were killed. After takeoff from runway 08, ATC informed the crew about an insufficient altitude and instructed the crew to turn to the right and gain height. Shortly later, at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the airplane struck the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain, less than 30 feet below the summit.

Aircraft reference details include registration 62-3536, MSN 18519, year of manufacture 1963.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 35.0011°, -106.5157°.