1965 — June 25, USAF Stratolifter crash after takeoff, Loma Ridge, El Toro MCAS, CA –all 84

–85 Baugher, Joseph F. 1960 USAF Serial Numbers. 9-26-2011 revision.
–85 Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 86.
–84 BAAA. “Crash of a Boeing C-135A-BN Stratotanker at El Toro AFB: 84 Killed.”
–84 LA Times. “California Retrospective: Orange County’s deadliest air disaster…” 6-28-2015.
–84 Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1960s.” Oct 23, 2008 update.
–84 Voice of OC. “In Memory: Worst Air Disaster in OC History.” 11-11-2018; 12-8-2020.

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Boeing C-135A-BN Stratolifter….0373 (c/n 18148) crashed on takeoff from USMCAS El Toro, CA. Jun 25, 1965. 85 killed. Cause of accident is unknown. To all extents and purposes, the pilots failed to turn the aircraft to avoid rising ground and just flew straight into it.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1960 USAF Serial Numbers. 9-26-2011 revision.)

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives:
“Date & Time: Jun 25, 1954 at 0146 LT
“Type of aircraft: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker [Stratolifter]
“Operator: USAF
“Registration: 60-0373
“Flight Phase: Takeoff (climb)
“Flight Type: Military
“Survivors: No
“Site: Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
“Schedule: McGuire – El Toro – Hickam – Kadena
“MSN: 18148
“YOM: 1961
….
“Crew on board: 12
“Crew fatalities: 12
“Pax on board: 72
“Pax fatalities: 72
“Other fatalities: 0
“Total fatalities: 84
“Circumstances:

“The aircraft was on its way from McGuire AFB to Kadena, Okinawa, with intermediate stops at El Toro AFB [Marine Corps Air Station] and Hickam AFB, Honolulu. The departure from El Toro AFB was completed by night and marginal weather conditions. One minute after liftoff, during initial climb at an altitude of about 1,150 feet, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of the Loma Hill located three miles from the airfield. The aircraft struck the hill 150 feet below the summit and disintegrated on impact. None of 84 occupants survived the crash. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds, light drizzle and night.

“Probable cause: It was determined that the crew performed a straight-in climb after takeoff
instead of making a turn to the left as prescribed in the published departure
procedures of the El Toro AFB.”

(BAAA. “Crash of a Boeing C-135A-BN Stratotanker at El Toro AFV: 84 Killed.”)

Gero: “Operated by the Military Air Transport Service and bound for Okinawa, with a planned stop at Hickam Air Force Base, in Hawaii, US, the jet transport [60-0373] crashed 40 miles (65km) south-east of Los Angeles, about a minute after its departure from El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. All 85 American servicemen aboard perished, including a crew of 12 Air Force personnel; the passengers were members of the Marine Corps.

“After taking off from Runway 34R, the aircraft struck Loma Ridge at an approxi¬mate elevation of 1,000ft (300m), or only about 200ft (60m) below its crest, some 3 miles (5km) north-north-west of the base, exploding on impact. The crash occurred in darkness, and the meteoro¬logical conditions in the area at the time consisted of light drizzle, fog and a low overcast, with broken clouds at 500ft (150m) and solid coverage at 900ft (275m), and a visibility of 3 miles (5km). The wind was from due south at 4 knots. For undetermined reasons, 60-0373 had failed to make a left proce¬dural turn following take-off, and as a result flew into the rising terrain.” (Gero 1999, p. 86)

Notable California Aviation Disasters:
“Number 3 of California’s “10 Worst Crashes”
“Date / Time: Friday, June 25, 1965 / 1:46 a.m.
“Operator / Flight No.: United States Air Force / Military
“Location: Near Irvine, Calif.

“Details and Probable Cause: The westbound military flight, utilizing a Boeing C-135A Stratolifter transport (60-0373), originated at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey and was bound for the island of Okinawa, via El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Orange County, California, and Hickam Air Force Base near Honolulu, Hawaii.

“Carrying 72 U.S. Marines Corps members and manned by a crew of 12, the aircraft, the military derivative of the four-engine Boeing B707 jetliner, took off at 1:35 a.m. into thick fog and light drizzle from Runway 34R at El Toro.

“The aircraft had reached an altitude of about 1,000 feet when it failed to make a prescribed left turn and continued on its northward course, smashing into Loma Ridge while flying at an estimated 300 mph.

“The jet impacted the 1,300-foot hill at a point approximately 150 below its crest and disintegrated into flames, scattering wreckage and bodies over a mile-wide portion of the 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch. All 84 persons aboard were killed.

“Due to the heavy fog and low overcast, the crash site wasn’t located by search and rescue members until over four hours after the plane went down. The exact cause of the crash remains undetermined.

“The worst aviation disaster in Orange County history.” (Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1960s.” Oct 23, 2008 update.)

Voice of OC [Orange County, CA]:
Shows photo of plaque on display at Heroes Hall honoring some of Orange County’s most decorated veterans, noting “This plaque was erected to honor the 84 men who were killed when the plane transporting them to Viet Nam crashed into Loma Ridge after take off from El Toro Marine Air Station on June 25, 1965.” Shows names of 12 USAF flight crew and 72 US Marines.

Newspaper

Los Angeles Times (Harrison), June 28, 2015: “The deadliest air disaster in Orange County history occurred 50 years ago this month. In the early morning of June 25, 1965, an Air Force C-135 Stratolifter with 72 Marines and 12 crew members took off from El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and crashed into a nearby mountain.

“Here’s a retrospective from The Times’ reporting:

“Death was instantaneous for all aboard as the huge jet disintegrated in flames on a grass-covered hillside a mile wide.

“A Marine spokesman said the aircraft should have climbed more rapidly after taking off from the 380-foot-elevation runway and also banked to the left toward the ocean.

“Officials said the airport tower lost contact with the plane immediately after giving clearance for takeoff at 1:45 a.m. and then lost radar contact.

“On the plane were 70 enlisted men from the 2nd Replacement Company, Staging Battalion, Camp Pendleton, who were being transferred to the 3rd Marine Division at Okinawa. Under normal replacement procedures, the 70 had been recruited from all over the country. Some members of the 3rd Marine Division were fighting in Vietnam. Two other Marines were “hitchhiking” a ride, Camp Pendleton reported.

“It took more than four hours to find the crash site because fog and drizzle obscured the mountains….” (Los Angeles Times (Scott Harrison). “California Retrospective: Orange County’s deadliest air disaster occurred 50 years ago this month.” 6-28-2015.)

Sources

Baugher, Joseph F. 1960 USAF Serial Numbers. 9-26-2011 revision. Accessed 2-23-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1960.html

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Boeing C-135A-BN Stratotanker at El Toro AFV: 84 Killed.” Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-boeing-c-135a-bn-stratotanker-el-toro-afb-84-killed

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

Los Angeles Times (Scott Harrison). “California Retrospective: Orange County’s deadliest air disaster occurred 50 years ago this month.” 6-28-2015. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://www.latimes.com/local/orangecounty/la-me-0629-el-toro-retrospective-20150629-story.html

Notable California Aviation Disasters. “The 1960s.” Oct 23, 2008 update. Accessed 10/17/2009 at: http://www.jaydeebee1.com/crash60s.html [No longer operational]

Voice of OC [Orange County, CA]. “In Memory: Worst Air Disaster in OC History.” 11-11-2018; updated 12-8-2020. Accessed 5-31-2022 at: https://voiceofoc.org/2018/11/in-memory-worst-air-disaster-in-oc-history/