1985 — Oct 15, USMC Sea Knight helicopter off USS Guadalcanal crash, Onslow Bay, NC—15

–15 AP. “15 Die in Marine Helicopter Crash.” The Wilson Daily Times, NC. 10-16-1985, p. 1.
–15 Aviation Safety Network. USMC Sea Knight pilot error crash, Onslow Bay, 15 Oct 1985.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Network, Database:
“Date: 15-Oct-1985 ….
“Type: Boeing Vertol CH-46E Sea Knight
“Owner/operator: United States Marine Corps (USMC)
“Registration: 153968
“MSN: 2319
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 15 / Occupants: 19
….
“Location: Onslow Bay – United States of America
“Phase: Initial climb
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: USS Guadalcanal
“Destination airport: USS Guadalcanal
“Narrative:

“After launching from USS Guadalcanal during night operations, a Marine “Sea Knight” helicopter from HMM-263 crashed into Onslow Bay and sank Tuesday 15 October 1985, killing 15 of the 19 men on board, officials said. Causal factor of mishap was determined to be pilot error.”

Newspaper

Oct 16, AP: “Jacksonville – The second worst aircraft accident in Marine corps history killed 15 troops when a helicopter plunged into waters off the North Carolina coast, and as Marine comrades held a shipboard memorial service, officials said they had few details of the predawn crash. ‘They are looking into all the contributing factors that may have caused the crash,’ said Gunnery Sgt. John Simmons of the Camp Lejeune public affairs office. ‘The structure of the helicopter, if anything fell off, the pilot’s condition, the weight…all these things they are looking at.’

“Four others were rescued Tuesday after their twin-rotor, Marine CH-46D ‘Sea Knight’ helicopter, with 19 people aboard, crashed and sank after taking off from the USS Guadalcanal.

“Simmons said the worst crash in Marine history was a loss of a CH-53D in the Sea of Japan last May. All 17 people aboard were killed, he said….

“The helicopter was participating in an exercise with the 26th Marine Amphibious Unit, he said. The CH-46 is the principal assault helicopter of the Marine Corps and also is used extensively by the Navy to carry cargo and passengers between ships and shore facilities….

“Simmons said he had no details of the crash. ‘It left the ship flying over the water and crashed’ about a mile from the shore, he said….

“Four Marines were pulled from the Choppy waters around the Guadalcanal and one body was found. Navy and Marine divers organized a search operation for the 14 missing Marines, whose bodies were found Tuesday afternoon, Simmons said….The dead were identified early today by Sgt. Pamela Vajner at Camp Lejeune as: [We break into separate lines from the paragraph.]

Marine 1st Lt. John R. Blee, Durant, Iowa;
Marine Sgt. John F. Carney, Glendora, Calif.;
Marine Pfc. Craig F. Carnley, Bay Minette, Ala.;
Marine Lance Cpl. Larry L. Day, Peoria, Ill.; and
Marine Cpl. A. L. Jones Jr., Jamestown, R.I.
Marine Staff Sgt. David Jones, Beaumont, Texas;
Marine Pvt. Purnell Jones, Milwaukee, Wis.;
Marine 2nd Lt. John B. Karner, Eagle, Wis.;
Navy Lt. Robert L. Ledbetter, chaplain of the 26th Marine Amphibious Unit, Norfolk, Va.’
Marine Cpl. Cliff Moyer, Cement City, Mo.
Marine Cpl. Greg G. Reber, Alburn, Pa.;
Marine Pfc. Michael J. Stuhlsatz, Millstadt, Ill.;
Marine 1st Lt. John G. Wasko, pilot, San Diego, Calif.;
Marine Sgt. Dirk A. Witcher, Bel Air, Texas; and
Marine Pvt. Johnnie B. Young, Cordele, Okla.”

(Associated Press. “15 Die in Marine Helicopter Crash.” The Wilson Daily Times, NC. 10-16-1985, pp. 1 and 6.)
Sources

Associated Press. “15 Die in Marine Helicopter Crash.” The Wilson Daily Times, NC. 10-16-1985, pp. 1 and 6. Accessed 7-23-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wilson-daily-times-oct-16-1985-p-1/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Network, Database. USMC Sea Knight pilot error crash, Onslow Bay, 15 Oct 1985. Accessed 7-23-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/56062