Eielson - Shemya

On March 15, 1981 at 10:45 PM, Eielson - Shemya experienced a crash involving Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Shemya Alaska.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

24 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 18 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 25.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 20, passenger fatalities: 6, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The approach to Shemya Airport was initiated by night and poor weather conditions with turbulences, fog and snow falls. On final, the crew failed to realize he was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. Six occupants were killed while 18 others were rescued. Those killed were: Maj William R. Bennett, Cpt Larry A. Mayfield, 1st Lt Loren O. Ginter, M/Sgt Stephen L. Kish, S/Sgt Steven C. Balcer, S/Sgt Harry L. Parsons III.

Aircraft reference details include registration 61-2664, MSN 18340/C20, year of manufacture 1962.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 52.7227°, 174.1003°.