1966 — Apr 9, USN Orion P-3A auto-pilot loss, crash, Pacific, ~187M off San Diego, CA–11

— 11 ASN. Accident Description. USN Lockheed P-3A-55-LO Orion. 300 km off San Diego.
— 11 Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (150139 to 156169). 10-29-2011.
— 11 Planecrashinfo.com. “1966…Accident Details…USN…off San Diego, CA…9 Apr 1966.”
— 11 Roberts, M.D. Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2. 2000, p. 108.
— 11 VPNavy.org. U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. “VP-19 Mishap…1960’s…09 APR 66…”

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“Date: Saturday 9 April 1966; 19:25
“Type: Lockheed P-3A Orion
“Operator: United States Navy
“Registration: 152171
“MSN: 185-5141
“First Flight: 1965
“Crew: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11
….
“Total Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11
….
“Location: 300 km (187.5 mls) S off San Diego-North Island NAS, CA (NZY), USA (Pacific
Ocean)….
….
“Departure airport: Mountain View-Moffett Field, CA (NUQ)…
“Destination airport: Mountain View-Moffett Field, CA (NUQ)…

“Narrative: Crashed into water due to loss of autopilot during an anti-submarine training flight.”
(ASN. Accident Description. USN Lockheed P-3A-55-LO Orion. 300 km off San Diego, 9 APR 1966.)

Baugher: “152171 (VP-19) crashed into water off Baja California due to autopilot loss Apr 9, 1966. 11 killed.” (Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos 3rd Series (150139 to 156169). 10-29-2011.)

Planecrashinfo.com: “Crashed into water due to loss of the autopilot during an anti-submarine training flight.” No survivors.

Roberts: “9 Apr 1966: A squadron P-3A PE-4, BuNo. 152171, was lost off the coast of Baja, Calif., while engaged in an ASW training flight. All 11 members of the flight crew were killed.” (Roberts. Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2. 2000, p. 108.)

VPNavy.org: “…Type: Collision Water Strike…Deaths-11…Cause: Auto Pilot Loss….There were no bodies recovered from this accident. The accident occurred during ASW training exercises at sea south of San Diego…” (VPNavy.org. U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. “VP-19 Mishap…1960’s….09 APR 66 A/C:P3.” 4-20-2004 update.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Navy Lockheed P-3A-55-LO Orion. 300 km off San Diego, 9 Apr 1966. Accessed 5-3-2022 at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19660409-0

Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (150139 to 156169). Oct 29, 2011 revision. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries19.html

Planecrashinfo.com. “1966…Accident Details…USN…off San Diego, CA…9Apr1966.” Accessed at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1966/1966-21.htm

Roberts, Michael D. Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2. The History of VP, VPB, VP(HL) and VP(AM) Squadrons. Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, 2000. Accessed 5-3-2022 at: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-2.html

VPNavy.org. U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. “VP-19 Mishap…1960’s….09 APR 66 A/C:P3.” 4-20-2004 update. Accessed 5-3-2022 at: http://www.vpnavy.org/vp19_mishap.html