Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

United States Air Force - USAF

On 19 May 2016, at 0832 hours local time (L), a B-52H, tail number 60-0047 [Mishap Aircraft (MA)], assigned to the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, 5th Bomb Wing, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, departed the prepared-surface overrun of Runway 06 Left (RWY 06L) during a highspeed, heavy-weight, aborted takeoff. The Mishap Crew (MC), which consisted of the Mishap Pilot (MP), Mishap Co-Pilot (MCP), Mishap Radar Navigator (MRN), Mishap Navigator (MN), Mishap Electronic Warfare Officer (MEW), an augment pilot occupying the Mishap Gunner (MG) station, and an Instructor Weapon System Officer occupying the Mishap Instructor Pilot (MIP) jump seat, were conducting a Higher Headquarters Directed mission. The MC were treated for minor injuries consistent with a ground egress. The MA sustained total damage with a loss valued at $112M. There was no damage to private property. The MC were cleared for takeoff at 0831L. The MA accelerated within performance standards verified by takeoff and landing data calculated performance for S1 timing and S1 decision speed. Approximately three to five seconds after reaching the S1 speed of 111 knots, the MP, MCP, and MN observed birds in front of the MA at wing level. Shortly thereafter, the MP and MCP observed engine indications for numbers 5, 6, and 7 “quickly spooling back” from the required takeoff setting. The MP also observed high oil pressure indications on the number 8 engine and a noticeable left-to-right yawing motion. Accelerating through approximately 142 knots, the MP simultaneously announced and initiated aborted takeoff emergency procedures. With the throttles set to idle thrust and airbrakes set to six, the MP initiated continuous braking pressure. The MCP deployed the drag chute at 135 knots. The drag chute failed to inflate properly. At 2,500 feet runway remaining, the MP shut off the outboard engines (numbers 1/2 and 7/8). Shortly thereafter, the MP announced the MA and MC were going to depart the prepared surface. The MEW jettisoned the defensive compartment, starboard-side hatch and the MP shut off the inboard engines (numbers 3/4 and 5/6). The MA departed the prepared surface shearing the main landing gear. The MA finally came to a rest slightly canted from runway centerline, right wing down approximately 300 feet from the runway, and subsequently caught on fire. The MC performed emergency aircraft shutdown procedures and safely egressed the MA through the MEW hatch.

United States Air Force - USAF

The aircraft departed Andersen AFB on a flight around the Guam Island under call sign 'Raider 21' with 6 crew members on board, taking part to the Guam Liberation Day celebrations. About 15 minutes into the flight, while descending from 14,000 to 1,000 feet, the aircraft became uncontrollable and crashed in the sea about 50 km north of Guam Island. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and only few debris were found. All six crew members were killed. Crew: Maj Chris Cooper, pilot, Cpt Michael Dodson, copilot, 1st Lt Robert Gerren, electronic warfare officer, 1st Lt Joshua Shepherd, navigator, Maj Brent Williams, radar navigator, Col George Martin, flight surgeon.

United States Air Force - USAF

In preparation for the 1994 Fairchild Airshow, the Pilot Lt Col Arthur A. "Bud" Holland was again selected as the command pilot for the B-52 demonstration flight. On 15 June 1994, Holland briefed the new wing commander, Colonel William Brooks, on the proposed flight plan. Holland's demonstration profile violated numerous regulations, including steep bank angles, low-altitude passes, and steep pitch attitudes. Brooks ordered Holland not to exceed 45° bank angle or 25° pitch attitude during the demonstration. During the first practice session, on 17 June, Holland repeatedly violated these orders. Brooks witnessed this, but took no action. Pellerin flew with Holland on that flight and reported to Brooks that, "the profile looks good to him; looks very safe, well within parameters." The next practice flight on 24 June ended with the fatal crash. The demonstration profile designed by Holland included a 360° turn around Fairchild's control tower, a maneuver which he had not attempted in previous air show demonstrations. During the final flight, Holland performed a series of 60° bank turns and a 68° pitch climb in violation of Brooks' orders. There is no evidence to suggest that either McGeehan or Wolff attempted to intervene as Holland carried out these dangerous maneuvers. Pellerin was originally scheduled to fly in this mission, as he had done on the 17 June flight, but he was unavailable for the 24 June flight and Wolff was selected as the replacement aircrew member. Due to the short notice of his assignment to the mission, Wolff did not participate in the pre-flight briefing and boarded the aircraft after the engines were started. He was therefore unaware of the planned mission profile and had no opportunity to raise any objections before take-off. All of the four aircrew involved in the crash had only limited flying time in the months before the crash. It would appear that none of them had noticed that the aircraft had stalled until shortly before impact, as indicated by a failure to apply standard recovery techniques to the aircraft once it entered the stall. The investigation reported that even if the proper stall recovery techniques had been applied, it was unlikely that the accident could have been prevented as the aircraft was already flying too low to be recovered. Crew: Lt Col Arthur A. "Bud" Holland, pilot, Lt Col Mark C. McGeehan, copilot, Col Robert E. Wolff, observer, Lt Col Kenneth "Ken" Huston, operations officer.

United States Air Force - USAF

The aircraft was engaged in the operation 'Desert Storm' when the crew encountered electrical and engine problems in flight. Three crew members were able to bail out while three others were killed as they ejected too late. Crew: Cpt Kevin Kent, pilot, Cpt Jeffrey Love, copilot, Sgt Steven Ellard, gunner, Cpt Jon Jeffrey Olson, radar navigator, † 1st Lt Jorge I. Arteaga, navigator, † 1st Lt Eric D. Hedeen, EWO. †

United States Air Force - USAF

The aircraft was dispatched at Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB for a local training mission, carrying seven pilot under training and one instructor. Following several touch-and-go maneuvers, the crew attempted to takeoff when an explosion occurred in the rear of the aircraft, causing the tail section to detach. Out of control, the aircraft crash landed on the runway, slid for about 3,000 feet and came to rest, broken in several pieces. All eight crew members were rescued.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was engaged in a training flight out of Castle AFB. During the takeoff roll, the decision to abort was taken for unknown reasons. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and came to rest. All crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew departed Fairchild AFB, WA, on a training mission. While cruising by night, the crew encountered an unexpected situation (unknown technical problems) and decided to abandon the aircraft that crashed in a canyon located in Hunts Mesa, about 13 miles northeast of Kayenta, AZ. Two crew members were killed while five others were rescued. The aircraft disintegrated on impact. Crew: Cpt Robert L. Keeney, pilot, Lt Douglas J. Schwartz, copilot, Lt Kenneth O. Portis, navigator, Maj Eugene J. Daspit, radio navigator, Cpt Sean M. Yeronick, EWO, Col William L. Ivy, observer, † Sgt David W. Felix, air gunner. †

United States Air Force - USAF

The airplane departed Robins AFB on an exercise (Red Flag mission) bound for California. En route, it deviated from the prescribed flight path several times and was assisted and reoriented by an AWACS crew. While cruising over Utah in poor visibility, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 20 miles north of St George. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven crew members were killed. Crew: Cpt Donald W. Hiebert, pilot, 1st Lt Thomas C. Lennep Jr., copilot, Cpt Jonathan M. Bishop, radio navigator, 1st Lt Matthew W. Cervenak, navigator, 1st Lt Bernard S. Russell, EWO, Col Caroll D. Gunther, pilot observer, S/Sgt Major Carter, air gunner.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Sacramento-Mather AFB, consisting in a Minimum Interval Takeoff and Landing (MITO) mission. The crew started the takeoff procedure 10 seconds after a first USAF B-52 that departed the same runway. After liftoff, during initial climb, the airplane encountered wake turbulences. The pilot-in-command decided to reduce the engine power but his reaction was excessive, causing all eight engines to flame out. Due to a loss of speed, the aircraft stalled and struck the ground. It exploded on impact and debris were found on a 400 yards distance. All nine crew members were killed. Crew: Maj James Henry York, pilot, Cpt Lyle Allen Brunner, instructor, Cpt Dennis Earl Davis, electronic warfare instructor, M/Sgt Jere E. LeFever, gunner, 2nd Lt Scott A. Semmel, student copilot, 2nd Lt Peter M. Riley, student copilot, 2nd Lt Richard P. Robeson, student navigator, 2nd Lt Benjamin C. Berndt, student navigator, 2nd Lt Daniel N. Bader, student navigator.

United States Air Force - USAF

Following an uneventful training mission out from Castle AFB, the crew was returning to his base. After landing, the crew started the braking procedure when a fire erupted in the nose gear section. The aircraft was stopped and all six crew members escaped with no injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.