1981 — May 26, USN EA-68 Prowler Crash/Fire, USS Nimitz, off Jacksonville, FL — 14

—  14  AP. “Jet-Carrier Crash Kills 14,” Syracuse Herald-Journal (NY), May 27, 1981, p. 1.

—  14  Baugher.  US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (150139 to 156169). 10-29-2011.

—  14  US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”

 

Narrative Information

 

Baugher: “Grumman EA-6B ICAP I Prowler….159910 (VMAQ-2) crashed while landing on USS Nimitz while operating 70 mi from Jacksonville, FL May 26, 1981.  3 crewmen plus 11 deck personnel killed, 48 injured.  The aircraft reportedly applied power as it was landing and then suddenly drifted to the right, running into parked aircraft, causing ammunition to explode and starting numerous fires. 100 million dollars damage. The crash sparked a 5-month debate between Rep. Joseph Addabo (D-NY) and the Navy over whether drug use on board the carrier may have contributed to the crash.”  (Baugher.  US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (150139 to 156169). 10-29-2011.)

 

US Navy: “EA-6B Prowler crashed into flight deck of USS Nimitz (CVN-68) during a night landing, 14 sailors and marines killed, and 45 injured. Twelve aircraft lost or destroyed at a cost of $73 million. 26 May 1981.” (US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”)

 

Newspaper

 

May 27: “Jacksonville, Fla. (AP) – A radar-jamming jet crashed during a night landing on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, killing 14 people and injuring 45, Navy officials said today.

 

“The EA-6B Prowler, an electronic warfare plane that was temporarily grounded last year  because of its history of crashes, hit a number of other aircraft and touched off a fire on the carrier’s deck shortly before midnight yesterday, about 60 miles off the Jacksonville coast, according to Lt. Cmdr. Ken Pease, a spokesman at the Navy’s Norfolk, Va., Naval Station….

 

“…Lt. Cmdr. Dale Knee said 20 victims brought to the Naval Regional Medical Center here were in “very serious” and “very critical” condition.  Most suffered second- and third degree burns, and some had lacerations, internal injuries and fractures, Knee said.  The injured crewmen were treated first in the carrier’s medical department and a number of them were transferred by helicopter to a medical station at the Navy’s Jacksonville facility, Young added.

 

“The Prowler is a four-seater, but the Navy could not say immediately how many fliers were aboard when the jet crashed…..Navy officials…said initial reports indicated the one EA-6B and four F-14 aircraft were destroyed and three A-7 aircraft and one SH-3 helicopter sustained major damage….”  (Syracuse Herald-Journal (NY). “Jet-Carrier Crash Kills 14,” May 27, 1981, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Jet-Carrier Crash Kills 14,” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. May 27, 1981, p. 1.  Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=44853653

 

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

 

United States Department of the Navy. Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.  Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center. 2008.