1958 — June 27, USAF KC-135 Tanker Crash after takeoff, near Westover AFB, MA– 15

— 15 Baugher, Joseph F. 1956 USAF Serial Numbers (56-957/6956). 1-4-2012 revision.
— 15 Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 75.
— 15 NFPA. “Large Loss Fires of 1958.” NFPA Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 1959, p. 328.
–7 USAF crewmembers
–8 civilian passengers

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker….3599 crashed on takeoff from Westover AFB, MA Jun 27, 1958. 15 casualties, including a Brig. Gen.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1956 USAF Serial Numbers (56-957/6956). 1-4-2012 revision.)

Gero: “Taking off from Runway 23 at Westover Air Force Base, on an attempted record-breaking transatlantic flight to London and then back to the US, the Strategic Air Command jet tanker crashed just north of Springfield. All 15 men aboard perished, including six journalists and two other civilians riding as passengers; the seven members of the crew were Air Force personnel.

“Since mission requirements called for the maximum permissible fuel load, surface air temperature and its effect on the aircraft’s take-off performance were critical. Through calculations made by both the mission and the aircraft commander, it was determined that a flap setting of 40 degrees would provide for a take-off roll of the desired length. There would be a penalty in decreasing the ground roll, however, namely a shallower climb-out path. It was suspected that the pilots had concentrated on monitoring their air speed and failed to detect that the KC-135 had gone into a slight descent after becoming airborne, initially striking tree tops with its left wing and engines, at a point some 4,000ft (1,200m) from the end of the runway. The tanker then cut several power cables and finally slammed to earth in a near-vertical left bank and burst into flames, scattering wreckage across the Massachusetts Turnpike. It was dark at the time of the crash, and the meteorological conditions consisted of a high overcast, with scattered clouds at 700ft (200m) and a runway visual range of 11/2 miles (2.5km) in fog. The wind was from a south-westerly direction at 9 knots.

“Investigation ruled out in-flight fire or pre-impact structural failure, power plant or other mechanical malfunction. It was therefore concluded that the accident must have resulted from complications in aircraft handling technique, associated with the high gross weight and the marginal weather and night-time visibility conditions, which were compounded by flight instrument limitations.” (Gero 1999, pp. 75 & 76.)

National Fire Protection Association: “June 27, near Westover Air Force Base, Mass. USAF KC-135A. $5,000,000; 15 killed.

“One of the worst tragedies of the year occurred when this KC-135AZ jet tanker crashed shortly after take-off, killing all 7 crew members and the 8 passengers aboard. The aircraft, the third of four KC-135a’s, scheduled for a transatlantic nonstop flight to London and return, carried 6 newsmen and 2 observers from the National Aeronautics Association. This was all part of a special mission aimed to demonstrate the capabilities of the Strategic Air Command with these new tanker planes which are of the same basic design as the Boeing 708 commercial transports.

“A USAF Accident Investigation Report has been issued blaming the ‘complications in aircraft handling technique compounded by flight instrument limitations’ as being the cause of the tragedy. The accident occurred seconds after take-off and approximately 4,000 feet from the end of the runway. At that point, the aircraft’s fuselage, left wing and engines struck tree tops that were approximately 16 feet above the runway elevation. After an additional 700 feet, the aircraft again struck tree tops and then hit 6 commercial power cables and then the ground.

“The aircraft was completely destroyed by ground fire which was so intense that no rescue opportunities were presented. The first fire equipment to reach the scene was a unit operated by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority which responded since the crash sprayed burning gasoline over a section of that highway.” (NFPA. “Large Loss Fires of 1958.” NFPA Quarterly, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 1959, p. 328.)

Sources

Baugher, Joseph F. 1956 USAF Serial Numbers (56-957/6956). 1-4-2012 revision. Accessed 2-21-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1956_2.html

Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.

National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss Fires of 1958.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 1959, p. 328.