Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Minden Air

The captain reported that, while returning to the departure airport following an uneventful aerial drop, he noticed that the hydraulic pressure gauge indicated 0. The first officer subsequently verified that the sight gauge for the main hydraulic fluid reservoir was empty. The flight crew began performing the emergency gear extension checklist and verified that the nosewheel landing gear was extended. The captain stated that the first officer then installed the pin in the nosewheel landing gear as part of the emergency checklist. As the flight crewmembers diverted to a nearby airport because it had a longer runway and emergency resources, they briefed the no-flap landing. The first officer extended the main landing gear using the emergency gear release, which resulted in three down-and-locked landing gear indications. Subsequently, the airplane landed normally; however, during the landing roll, the nosewheel landing gear collapsed, and the airplane then came to rest nose low. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the nosewheel landing gear pin was disengaged from the nosewheel jury strut, and the pin was not located. The disengagement of the pin allowed the nosewheel landing gear to collapse on landing. It could not be determined when or how the pin became disengaged from the jury strut. Installation of the pin would have required the first officer to maneuver in a small area and install the pin while the nose landing gear door was open and the gear extended. Further, the pin had a red flag attached to it. When inserted during flight, the flag encounters a high amount of airflow that causes it to vibrate; this could have resulted in the pin becoming disengaged after it was installed. Evidence of a hydraulic fluid leak was observed around the right engine cowling drain. The right engine hydraulic pump case was found cracked, and the backup ring was partially extruded, which is consistent with hydraulic system overpressurization. The reason for the overpressurization of the hydraulic system could not be determined during postaccident examination.

Neptune Aviation Charter

The airplane collided with mountainous terrain while conducting firefighting operations, 20 miles north of Modena, Utah. The airplane was operated by Neptune Aviation Services under contract with the US Forest Service as an exclusive public-use fixed-wing airtanker service contract conducted under the operational control of the Bureau of Land management (BLM). Both pilots were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan had been filed. The flight originated in Cedar City, Utah, at 1315. The crew of Tanker 11 consisted of the pilot, copilot, and crew chief. They were based out of Missoula, MT, and had been together as a crew for the previous 3 weeks. Normally, the crews stay together for the entire fire season. Tanker 11 crew had operated out of Reno for the 2 weeks prior to the accident. During fire drop operations the tanker is manned by the pilot and copilot, while the crew chief remains at the fire base as ground personnel. The day before the accident while en route from Reno to Cedar City they performed one retardant drop on the White Rock fire, then landed at Cedar City. The crew departed the Cedar City tanker base and arrived at their hotel in Cedar City around 2230. The following morning, the day of the accident, the crew met at 0815, and rode into the Cedar City tanker base together. Tanker 11 took off at 1214 on its first drop on the White Rock fire, and returned at 1254. The crew shut down the airplane, reloaded the airplane with retardant, and did not take on any fuel. Tanker 11 departed the tanker base at 1307 to conduct its second retardant drop of the day, which was to be in the same location as the first drop. Upon arriving in the Fire Traffic Area (FTA) Tanker 11 followed the lead airplane, a Beech Kingair 90, into the drop zone. The drop zone was located in a shallow valley that was 0.4 miles wide and 350 feet deep. The lead airplane flew a shallow right-hand turn on to final, then dropped to an altitude of 150 feet above the valley floor over the intended drop area. While making the right turn on to final behind the lead plane, Tanker 11's right wing tip collided with terrain that was about 700 feet left of the lead airplane's flight path, which resulted in a rapid right yaw, followed by impact with terrain; a fire ball subsequently erupted. Tanker 11 created a 1,088-foot-long debris field and post impact fire.

Neptune Aviation Charter

The multi-engine fire bomber, which was not carrying retardant, was established at its cruise altitude while en route to a fire base where it would be used as part of the effort to fight a local fire. While en route, the flight crew encountered a forecast area of instrument meteorological conditions, whereupon they began a series of descents to lower altitudes in order to stay in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions beneath the clouds. During the last few minutes of their flight, the flight crew had descended to an altitude that was less than 1,300 feet above ground level (agl) over nearly level terrain. As they approached rapidly rising terrain at the end of the broad open valley they had been flying over, they inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Soon thereafter, while still in a nearly wings-level attitude, the airplane impacted a ridge about 240 feet below its top. The First Officer, who was flying at the time, had asked the Captain about ten minutes prior to the impact if their altitude was high enough to clear the upcoming terrain, but the Captain did not respond, and the First Officer did not challenge the Captain about the issue. Witnesses in the area reported low clouds with ceilings about 200 feet above ground level with a visibility of one-quarter mile or less, with rain and fog. One of the witnesses reported momentarily viewing the airplane flying "very low," while the others reported only being able to hear the airplane.

Neptune Aviation Charter

Just after the airplane's landing gear was retracted during takeoff for a retardant drop mission, a ball of fire was observed coming out of the left jet engine before the airplane rolled steeply to the left and descended into the terrain. Prior to takeoff, the captain said he would make the takeoff and provided a takeoff briefing concerning the runway to be used and his intentions should an emergency develop. Shortly thereafter, the captain informed the co-pilot that this would actually be his (the co-pilot's) takeoff. On the cockpit voice recorder, the co-pilot stated "Same briefing (sound of laughter)". The co-pilot did not give an additional takeoff briefing beyond the one given by the captain and the captain did not ask the co-pilot to give one. During the initial climb, the captain said he detected a fire on the left side of the airplane and the copilot responded that he was holding full right aileron. At no point did either pilot call for the jettisoning of the retardant load as required by company standard operating procedures, or verbally enunciate the jet engine fire emergency checklist. Recorded data showed that the airplane's airspeed then decayed below the minimum air control speed, which resulted in an increased roll rate to the left and impact with terrain. The 11th stage compressor disc of the left jet engine failed in fatigue, which caused a catastrophic failure of the compressor section and the initiation of the engine fire. Metallurgical examination of the fracture identified several origin points at scratches in the surface finish of the disk. The scratches were too small to have been observed with the approved inspection procedures used by the company. A review of the FAA sanctioned Approved Aircraft Inspection Program, revealed no shortcomings or anomalies in the performance or documentation of the program. A post-accident examination of the airframe and three remaining engines revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operations.

Minden Air

The fire tanker airplane was on a cross-country positioning flight and collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering in a canyon near the destination airport. Witnesses who held pilot certificates were on a mountain top at 7,900 feet and saw a cloud layer as far to the south as they could see. They used visual cues to estimate that the cloud tops were around 5,000 feet mean sea level (msl). They noted that the clouds did not extend all the way up into the mountain canyons; the clouds broke up near the head of some canyons. When they first saw the airplane, they assumed that it came from above the clouds. It was proceeding north up a canyon near the edge of clouds, which were breaking up. They were definitely looking down at the airplane the whole time. They saw the airplane make a 180-degree turn that was steeper than a standard rate turn. The wings leveled and the airplane went through one cloud, reappeared briefly, and then entered the cloud layer. It appeared to be descending when they last saw it. About 2 minutes later, they saw the top of the cloud layer bulge and turn a darker color. The bulge began to subside and they observed several smaller bulges appear. They notified local authorities that they thought a plane was down. Searchers discovered the wreckage at that location and reported that the wreckage and surrounding vegetation were on fire. The initial responders reported that the area was cloudy and the visibility was low. Examination of the ground scars and wreckage debris path disclosed that the airplane collided with the canyon walls in controlled flight on a westerly heading of 260 degrees at an elevation of 3,400 feet msl. The operator had an Automated Flight Following (AFF) system installed on the airplane. It recorded the airplane's location every 2 minutes using a GPS. The data indicated that the airplane departed Prescott and flew direct to the Twentynine Palms VORTAC (very high frequency omnidirectional radio range, tactical air navigation). The flight changed course slightly to 260 degrees, which took it to the northeast corner of the wilderness area where the accident occurred. At 1102:57, the data indicated that the airplane was at 11,135 feet msl at 204 knots. The airplane then made three left descending 360-degree turns. The third turn began at 6,010 feet msl. At 1116:57, the last recorded data point indicated that the airplane was at an altitude of 3,809 feet heading 256 degrees at a speed of 128 knots.

Neptune Aviation Charter

The airplane had made a dry pass on the fire zone, then circled around to make a second pass and release its load of 2,450 gallons of retardant. According to witnesses, the airplane struck trees while in a nose low, right wing low attitude. Upon ground impact, the airplane exploded and burned. Investigation revealed no evidence of preimpact airframe, engine, propeller, or flight control failure/malfunction. The first officer, an initial attack trainee pilot, was in the left seat and the captain was in the right seat. Toxicology tests of the first officer indicated 0.031 ug/ml brompheniramine, 0.011 ug/ml chlorpheniramine in kidney fluid, and 0.142 brompheniramine, 0.072 chlorpheniramine in liver fluid. Both medications are over-the-counter antihistamines with sedative effects.

Neptune Aviation Charter

The aircraft departed Missoula on a fire fighting mission under callsign Tanker 04. The crew apparently became fixated on the malfunction of the retardant-release doors and did not realize the tanker was entering a narrow box canyon when it struck the slope of Mt Squaw located about 20 miles northwest of Missoula Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Hawkins %26 Powers Aviation

The flight had departed Tucson, AZ, on a special VFR ferry flight to Greybull, WY. The airplane was not instrumented for IFR flight. When the flight reported over Winslow, it was advised that VFR flight was not recommended northbound from its present position. Surface weather conditions in southcentral wyoming/northwestern Colorado at the time of the accident were consistent with low ceilings, clouds and snow as reported by witnesses and surface weather observations. The witnesses, located near the Dixon Airport, reported hearing a low flying aircraft travelling west to east, and another witness northeast of the arpt heard an aircraft 'revving' its engines. Radar data shows the aircraft tracking northbound slightly east of the Dixon airport, and executing a clockwise 360° turn northeast of the airport and in the vicinity of one of the witnesses. The last radar target received placed the aircraft approximately one mile north-northeast of the accident site. The aircraft impacted snow covered terrain in a steep nose-down attitude. Both pilots were killed.

Black Hills Aviation

A Cessna 172N registered N738AQ crashed in the Olympic National Forest earlier that day and a fire erupted. The crew was dispatched in the region of Lake Wynoochee to proceed in a fire fighting mission. After the retardant was dropped, the crew initiated a climb when control was lost and the aircraft crashed in a wooded area located near the Wynoochee Dam. Both pilots were killed.

Black Hills Aviation

At approximately 3:00 p.m. on September 10, 1987, the Army called Black Hills Aviation to suppress a fire started by a FAADS missile. The missile was fired more than two hours before the crash. A P2V aircraft, Forest Service Number N96271 ["Tanker 07"], owned by Black Hills, was dispatched in response to the request for aerial fire suppression. Tanker 07 was piloted by Nathan Kolb and co-piloted by Woodard Miller, employees of Black Hills Aviation who were not Department of Defense personnel. Tanker 07 obtained authorization to enter the missile range's airspace from the missile range air controller. During the flight, Tanker 07 crashed on the missile range and both pilots were killed. The crash site was located approximately fifteen miles into the interior of the missile range, and was inside the testing site for the FAADS Project.

Argentinian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Argentina

The crew departed Río Grande-Almirante Hermes José Quijada Airport in the morning on a glaciology exploration mission over Antarctica. While flying in relative good weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Barnard located on the Livingston Island. Communication was lost with the crew at 1245LT and SAR operations were immediately initiated. The wreckage was located eight days later, on September 25. All 11 occupants were killed. The aircraft had a dual registration 0644 and 2-P-103. Crew: Lt Miguel Berraz, pilot, Cpt Arnaldo Mutto, copilot, Lt Claudio Cabut, Lt Romualdo Migliardo, flight engineer, 2nd Lt Nelson Villagra, Cpl Jesus Arroyo, Sgt Juan Noto, Cpl Benjamin Scesa, radio operator, Cpl Omar Campastri, Sgt Remberto Brizuela. Passenger: Rodolfo Rivarola, Director of Canal 13 Television in Río Grande.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - Kaijo Jieitai

While conducting a maritime patrol flight, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Pacific Ocean off the Iwo Jima Island. The crew was unable to send any distress call and all SAR operations were abandoned after few days as no trace of the airplane nor the eight crew members was found.

United States Navy - USN

Suffered an accident at South Weymouth NAS. There were no casualties.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - Kaijo Jieitai

The crew was returning to Kanoya AFB following a maritime patrol flight. On approach, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 8 km short of runway. All eight crew members were killed.

United States Navy - USN

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. The crew fate remains unknown.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - Kaijo Jieitai

While conducting a maritime patrol flight, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Pacific Ocean off the city of Choshi. All 11 occupants were killed.

French Navy

On approach to Lorient-Lann-Bihoué NAS, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with fog. On final, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed few hundred yards short of runway 26 threshold. Three crew members were seriously wounded while six others were killed. Those killed were: Ens Valbur, pilot, O/T Lars, copilot, 1st Mst Busson, navigator, 1st Mst Jaffré, electrician, 1st Mst Le Goff, mechanic, 2nd Mst Le Bihan, mechanic.

French Navy

The airplane was engaged in a tactical exercice over the Atlantic Ocean and was carrying 12 members of the Escadrille 25F. Shortly after a night takeoff from Lorient-Lann-Bihoué Naval Air Station, while in initial climb in poor weather conditions, the airplane entered a left turn then plunged into the earth and crashed onto a small hill located in Kergantic, about 3 km southwest of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed. Crew: Lt Henri Debray, S/S Yvon Sivy, 1st Mst Michel Bioux, 1st Mst Louis Jacquemard, 1st Mst Gérard Donaghy, 1st Mst Achille Le Riblair, 1st Mst René Milewski, 1st Mst Pierre Le Guerroué, 1st Mst Roger Perrucchieti, Mst Jacques Bigot, Mst Jean-Pierre Frangé, Mst Jean-Marie Frison.

United States Navy - USN

Crashed in unknown circumstances, apparently on approach to Whidbey Island NAS, maybe another airport in the region of Seattle. Crew fate remains unknown.

United States Navy - USN

On final approach to Los Alamitos AAF, following a local training mission, the aircraft crashed short of runway threshold and came to rest. All five crew members were uninjured.

United States Navy - USN

En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to ditch the aircraft 769 km west of Guam Island. The crew of the ship SS President Cleveland was quickly on the scene and was able to evacuate all occupants. The aircraft sank and was lost.

United States Navy - USN

The crew was completing a local training mission at El Toro MCAS. On approach by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the right wing struck the top of ridge. The airplane crashed in the Harding Canyon located 7 miles northwest of the airbase. All seven crew members were killed.

United States Navy - USN

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Whidbey Island NAS. Crew fate remains unknown.

United States Navy - USN

The crew was completing a local training flight at Sangley Point AFB and was simulating a hydraulic failure when the aircraft veered off runway on landing and crashed. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

United States Navy - USN

The crew departed Nakhon Phanom Airport on a supply mission consisting of sensors dropping. While flying at low height, the airplane was struck by enemy fire. Seven occupants bailed out before the aircraft crashed in flames in a dense wooded area. Both pilots were killed while seven other occupants were evacuated five hours later. Those killed were: Cdr Paul Lloyd Milius, P02 John Francis Hartzheim.

United States Navy - USN

The crew departed Nakhon Phanom Airport and was supposed to deliver sensors near Ban Namm, some 48 km west of the DMZ. While cruising at low height, the airplane was hit by small arms fire and the crew reported the explosion of the right engine. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the jungle. All nine occupants were killed. Crew: Cdr Glenn Miller Hayden, Lt Curtis Frank Thurman, Lt(jg) James Stephen Kravitz, Ens James Charles Wonn, ATN1 Paul Nicholas Donato, A02 Clayborn Willis Ashby, ADJ2 Chester Leroy Coons, AN Frank Arthur Dawson, AN James Edward Martin.

United States Navy - USN

The airplane was engaged in an acoustic buoy drop mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The last radio contact was recorded at 0957LT then contact was lost. SAR operations were conducted but the wreckage was found 12 days later only on the north side of a cliff, about 150 feet below the 4,583-foot ridge line. All nine crew members were killed. Crew: Cdr Delbert Austin Olson, Lt(jg) Philip Paul Stevens, Lt (jg) Denis Leon Anderson, Lt (jg) Arthur Charles Buck, P02 Donald Nellis Thoresen, P02 Kenneth Harry Widon, P02 Michael Land Roberts, P02 Richard Michael Mancini, P03 Gale Robert Siow.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was completing a transpacific flight from Sangley Point AFB to Whidbey Island with probable en route stops in Japan and Alaska (Elmendorf or Ladd AAF). While in cruising altitude, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Fairweather located approximately 123 miles northwest of Juneau. As the aircraft failed to arrive at Whidbey Island NAS, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 14 crew members was found. In 1982, the wreckage was found in an isolated area.

United States Navy - USN

Crashed on landing at Otis AFB and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

United States Navy - USN

The crew was completing a local training flight out from Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS. While approaching the airbase from the east, the airplane collided with a USN Vought RF-86G Crusader registered 146864 and carrying one pilot. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in Jacksonville Beach, some 17 miles east of the airfield. All six occupants on both aircraft were killed.

United States Navy - USN

En route from Minneapolis-St Paul Airport to Willow Grove NAS, an engine failed. The crew was cleared to divert to Lock Haven for an emergency landing. In unknown circumstances, the airplane came to rest in flames and burned out. There were no casualties.

Brazilian Air Force - Força Aérea Brasileira

The crew was engaged in an anti-guerilla survey flight when he encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed on Bandeira Peak located in the Caparaó National Park. All three crew members were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

French Navy

The crew departed Lorient-Lann Bihoué Naval Air Station on a maritime patrol flight on behalf of the 24F Group. En route, in unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed into the Iroise Sea, some 40 nautical miles off the Ar-Men lighthouse, Britain. All 13 crew members were killed. Crew: Lieutenant de Vaisseau Thaddée Tyl, pilot, Maître Guy Stivalet, pilot, Lieutenant de Vaisseau Jean-François Lucas, navigator, Enseigne de Vaisseau Jacques Guillemette, navigator, Maître Michel Maurin, navigator, Premier Maître François Connan, flight engineer, Premier Maître Raymond Couturier, flight engineer, Maître Joseph Vanteene, flight engineer, Premier Maître Léopold Claulin, electronician, Maître Bernard Gueneguan, electronician, Maître Joseph Helliott, electronician, Maître Jean-Claude Pledel, electronician, Second Maître Louis Delannoy.

United States Navy - USN

After landing at Roosevelt Roads NAS, failed to stop within the remaining distance and overran. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

United States Navy - USN

Shortly after takeoff from Andrews AFB, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed few miles from the airfield. All nine crew members were killed.

United States Navy - USN

The crew was returning to North Island-Halsey Field NAS following a maritime patrol flight. On final approach, an engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed into the sea about four miles short of runway 36. All seven crew members were rescued while the airplane was lost.

United States Navy - USN

The crew was completing a local training flight out from NAS Brunswick. In flight, a rocket hung up after firing and ignited a wing. The captain was able to ditch the aircraft that was lost. A crew member was killed while nine others were rescued.

Argentinian Navy - Armada Argentina

The crew was returning to Canoas AFB in Porto Alegre following a combined exercise. A 2150LT, the last radio contact was recorded with the crew. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Terra de Areia, some 100 km northwest of Canoas Airbase. The wreckage was found two days later and all 11 occupants were killed.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force - Kaijo Jieitai

While cruising along the shore on a maritime patrol flight, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. All 11 crew members were killed.

United States Navy - USN

While conducting a coastal patrol mission out from Kodiak, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 3 miles southeast of Cape Newenham. All 12 crew members were killed. Crew: Lt L. D. Wilson, pilot, LCDR R. H. Walker, copilot, Lt W. A. Dotson, Lt R. A. Myers, navigator, Lt D. M. Smith, navigator, ADR1 H. M. Ley, mechanic, ADR3 B. J. Crum, mechanic, AE3 T. S. Gould, mad operator, ATN2 Laugesen, technician, AXAN M. McDaniel, technician, AN J. L. LYONS, technician, AO2 H. Brantley, ordnance.

French Navy

The crew departed Bousfer Airbase in Algeria on a long distance navigation training mission to Heraklion, Greece, on behalf of the Flotille 21.F based at Nîmes-Garons NAS, France. Following an uneventful flight, the crew was approaching Heraklion Airport when an engine caught fire. Control was lost and the airplane crashed few km from the runway threshold. Four crew members were injured and nine others were killed. The civil registration of the aircraft was F-XCUR. Those killed were: OE3 Henri Schimpf, EV2 Pollard, PM Brocard, MT Le Bris, MT Henry, MT Didier, MT Aguen, SM François, SM Jégou.

United States Navy - USN

The crew departed Iwakuni for a maritime patrol flight over the South China Sea. While cruising by night, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea about 120 km east of the Vietnam coast. Eight crew members were rescued while five others were killed.

United States Navy - USN

Suffered an accident at Norfolk-Chambers Field NAS. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

Republic of China Air Force

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Yantai while conducting an ELINT mission. All 13 occupants were killed.

United States Navy - USN

The crew was completing a maritime patrol flight out from Rota NAS when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean some 40 km off the NAS. All 10 occupants were killed.

Brazilian Air Force - Força Aérea Brasileira

Crashed on landing at Salvador-Dois do Julho Airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and there were no injuries.

Republic of China Air Force

The crew was involved in an ELINT and intrusion mission over China when the aircraft was shot down by the pilots of Chinese fighters MiG-17 et Tupolev Tu-4Ps. The aircraft crashed crashed in a field located in Linchuan, near Fuzhou, and all 14 occupants were killed.

United States Navy - USN

While approaching Kodiak Airport following a maritime patrol flight over the North Pacific, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The airplane struck the north face of the Mt Old Womens located few miles short of runway. Five crew members were rescued while seven others were killed. Those killed were: Lt William M. Carter, John Anthony Cole, Lt Paul W. Dannell, Russel S. Feldmann, Merlin J. Haas, Lt Richard T. Healy, Charles A. Treat.

United States Navy - USN

Shortly after takeoff from Alameda NAS, the port auxiliary jet engine caught fire. The crew attempted to return but the airplane became uncontrollable and crashed into the San Francisco Bay. The crew was rescued while the aircraft was lost.

United States Navy - USN

The crew was returning to the Johnston Atoll Airport following a maritime patrol mission when, on final approach, an engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed onto a reef located 1,1 mile short of runway threshold. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.