1977 — Sep 14, USAF EC-135K plane crash, Mt., Manzano range, ~Albuquerque, NM– 20

–20 ASN. Accident description. USAF Boeing EC-135K 8 km E of Albuquerque-Kirtland AFB
–20 Baugher, Joseph F. 1962 USAF Serial Numbers. 11-26-2011 update.
–20 Del Rio News-Herald (TX). “Air Force Jet Crash Kills 20,” Sep 15, 1977, p. 3.
–20 Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 124.
–20 Planecrashinfo.com. “1977. Accident Details. USAF…near Albuquerque, NM…Sep 14.”

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network: “….First Flight: 1963-02-27 (1`4 years 7 months)
“Total airframe hrs: 7307….
“Total: Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 20….
“Location: 8 km (5 mls) E of Albuquerque-Kirtland AFB, NM….
“Phase: Initial climb (ICL)
“Departure airport: Albuquerque-Kirtland AFB, NM…
“Destination airport: Las Vegas-Nellis AFB, NV…
“Narrative: Crashed in steep terrain, about 8,500 feet up the Manzano Mountain range.”

(Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Air Force, Boeing EC-135K 8 km E of Albuquerque-Kirtland AFB, NM, 14 Sep 1977.)

Baugher: “Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker….3536 (c/n 18519) converted to EC-135K. Crashed in steep terrain near Kirtland AFB, NM Sept 14, 1977. All 20 onboard killed. (ASN).” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1962 USAF Serial Numbers. 11-26-2011 update.)

Gero: “Date: 14 September 1977 (23:48)….

“Operated by the Tactical Air Command as an airborne command and control platform, the modified jet tanker crashed about 2½ minutes after taking off from Kirtland Air Force Base, and its entire crew of 20 perished.

“The scene of the accident was in the Manzano Mountains, 5 miles (10km) beyond the departure end of Runway 08, which the aircraft had used, and at an approximate elevation of 6,500ft (1,980m). Climbing on a heading of 125 degrees, the cleanly-configured EC-135 was in a right bank of approximately 30 degrees when it struck a peak just 30ft (10m) below its summit.

“Examination of a recovered air speed indicator revealed a reading that correlated to around 185mph (300kph) at the moment of the crash. Initial contact was with its right wing and No. 4 power plant, and in the subsequent impact the aircraft exploded and disintegrated.

“It was dark at the time, but the meteorological conditions were otherwise good, with a broken overcast at 11,000ft (3,400m), a visibility of 15 miles (25km) and a south-easterly wind of 4 knots. The investigation found no evidence of in-flight fire, explosion or structural, electrical, instrument, engine or flight control failure prior to impact. It was reported that before the crash, 62-3536 had been observed on radar to be flying too low, and that a ground controller unsuccessfully instructed it to turn right and climb. Fatigue may have contributed to the crew’s failure to follow the proper departure flight profile.” (Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 124-125.)

Planecrashinfo.com: “Crashed into a mountain peak in the Manzano range shortly after taking off and making a right bank. The aircraft was observed flying too low and did not heed the controller’s warnings. Fatigue may have played a part in the accident.” (Planecrashinfo.com.)

Newspaper

Sep 15: “Albuquerque, N.M. (AP) — An Air Force plane slammed into a mountainside on a high-security Army base, killing all 20 persons aboard when it exploded on impact a half mile from any bunker containing fissionable material, authorities said.

“The four engine plane crashed on Manzano Base, where nuclear weapons are stored, three minutes after its take off from Kirtland Air Force Base at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday.

“Kirtland base operations confirmed there were no survivors… ‘One big fireball and that was it’ a nearby resident said.

“Air Force crews using flares and helicopter spotlights recovered at least 15 bodies in a pre-dawn search. Authorities said all those aboard were military personnel.

“A spokesman at the plane’s base said it was used frequently by high ranking military personnel and American and foreign dignitaries. Former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger is among those who have used the plane, the spokesman said.

“The aircraft, which was scattered over 10 acres after impact was used as a model for modifications to Air Force One, the president’s plane.

“An air traffic controller said he tried to warn the pilot the plane was in trouble. ‘The first indication we had he was in trouble was when the radar showed he was too close to the mountain and flying too low;’ said the controller. ‘We hit him on the guard frequency and told him to turn right and climb … but he never did,’ he said.

“The jet was a communications aircraft based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C. An Air Force spokesman said it was on a training mission and was on its way to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The BC135, described as a ‘modified 707,’ stopped in Albuquerque to refuel, the spokesman said.” (Del Rio News-Herald, TX. “Air Force Jet Crash Kills 20,” Sep 15, 1977, p. 3.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Air Force, Boeing EC-135K 8 km E of Albuquerque-Kirtland AFB, NM, 14 Sep 1977. Accessed 2-25-2012 at:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19770914-0

Baugher, Joseph F. 1962 USAF Serial Numbers. 11-26-2011 update. Accessed 2-25-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1962.html

Del Rio News-Herald, TX. “Air Force Jet Crash Kills 20,” Sep 15, 1977, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=115365016

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

Planecrashinfo.com. “1977. Accident Details. USAF…near Albuquerque, NM…Sep 14.” Accessed at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1977/1977-52.htm