1957 — Apr 12, USN Neptune VP26 crash, touch & go landing, Brunswick NAS, ME — 6

–6 Aviation Safety Network. 12 April 1967, US Navy P2V-5 Neptune takeoff crash, Brunswick
–6 Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. “Six Die in Crash of Navy Plane.” 4-13-1957, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“Date Friday 12 April 1957
“Type: Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune
“Operator: United States Navy
“Registration: 131452
“MSN: 426-5333
….
“Crew: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
“Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
“Total: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
“Aircraft damage: Destroyed
“Location: Brunswick NAS, ME…
“Phase: Takeoff (TOF)
“Departure airport: Brunswick NAS, ME…
“Destination airport: Brunswick NAS, ME…
“Narrative:

“The Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune was engaged in a training flight at Brunswick NAS, Maine, USA. After two full stop landings, the aircraft was cleared for a touch-and-go. The approach for landing was slightly nose high. In the landing roll, the nose wheel never touched the runway. The aircraft left the runway in a slightly nose high attitude until about 50-100 feet was obtained.
The aircraft continued climbing at an ever steepening angle to about 1300 feet, at which point, it was near vertical, nose up. The nose fell through with a rapid loss of altitude and change of heading. At about 200 feet and 200 yards from point of impact, the wings were leveled momentarily and a slight nose up recovery observed. Almost immediately, the port wing and the nose dropped again and the aircraft struck the ground and trees in a 70 degree bank, 45 degrees nose down. Fire consumed the aircraft.

“Investigators concluded that a malfunction of some portion of the electrical units of the varicam system was the primary cause of the accident and that positive recovery procedure was not initiated soon enough to prevent the stall and ultimate crash. The varicam tail was found 9-1/2 degrees nose up.

“Classification: Loss of control.”

Newspaper

Biddeford Daily Journal, ME: “Brunswick (AP) — Six men on a routine training flight died in the flaming wreckage of their Navy bomber yesterday when the big craft crashed during a “touch and go landing.” All six were members of VP26, an antisubmarine squadron on regular training operations here. Their giant Lockheed Neptune aircraft landed on the north end of the north-south runway, touched its wheels and was cleared for takeoff without stopping. The ship rolled to the south end, became airborne and when several hundred feet in the air, suddenly veered to the-left and crashed into a clump of 40-foot pine trees. The Navy is conducting an inquiry to find out why.

“The million dollar aircraft loaded with “adequate but not full” gas tanks, exploded when it hit. Flying debris and parts narrowly missed workmen of the Lane Construction Co. of Meriden, Conn., who were clearing the trees for a new parking apron.

“The craft normally carried a “combat” crew of 11 but only six were aboard. The dead included two New Englanders — Lt. (j.g.) James D. Hovis, 25, the pilot, and Ens. Robert J. Kreuscher, 24, both of Brunswick, co-pilot. The other victims were ATS Charles H. Frank of Kokomo, Ind.; AD3 Donald R. Shobe of Capon Bridge, W. Va.; AM1 James L. Waggoner, Brunswick, father of four, originally from Portland, Ore; and AT3 Ray C. Stout of Chattanooga, Tenn. ….

“Five years ago tomorrow, five others died in the crash of a similar plane, this base’s last fatal flying accident. Another ship was involved in a minor mishap here Wednesday.” (Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. “Six Die in Crash of Navy Plane.” 4-13-1957, p. 1.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. 12 April 1967, US Navy P2V-5 Neptune takeoff crash, Brunswick NAS, ME. Accessed 2-28-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19570412-1

Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. “Six Die in Crash of Navy Plane.” 4-13-1957, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=165147312&sterm=navy+bomber+crash+brunswick