1982 — April 2, US Navy transport plane crash, Mediterranean island of Crete — 11
–11 Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. “Syracusan Among Crash Dead Recovered.” 4-6-1982, B-1.
–11 US Navy, Nav Hist. and Heritage Command. Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). 9-14-2016.
Narrative Information
US Navy: “COD 9, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s C-1A Mamie (BuNo 136787), launched during the afternoon watch on 2 April 1982, on a logistics flight to Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Crete. A gentle breeze touched the ship, but COD 69 arrived overhead the island an overcast sky with visibility of only two to three miles and an ‘obscured’ horizon ensured that the crew flew in instrument meteorological conditions. Mamie crashed shortly after 1614, though investigators could not determine the cause due to the lack of information. Low ceilings and poor visibility hampered rescuers, who finally discovered the wreckage strewn across the northeast side of a 1,400 foot mountainside about four miles from Souda Bay’s navigational beacon. Eleven men died: Cmdr. Richard W. Beiser, Lt. Cmdr. Bruce L. Cook, AD1 Carter C. Kriz, MM2 Michael W. Davis, MM2 John C. Shabella and AMHAN Brian E. Haley of the ship’s company; and AT1 Brian D. Lafferty of VAQ-132, AZ1 David E. Newbill of VS-31, AE1 Michael A. Nichols of HS-5, AME2 Kenneth R. Sorby of VS-31, and AMH3 Miles T. Glover of HS-5.” (US Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command (Mark L. Evans). Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). 9-14-2016.)
April 6: “Navy crews Monday [April 5] recovered the bodies of 11 men — including Syracuse native Carter Kriz — who were aboard a Navy transport plane that crashed Friday [2nd] on the Mediterranean island of Crete….A search plane discovered the wreckage Sunday, a Navy spokesman said. The plane took off from the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower early Friday in overcast weather while the ship was operating around Crete. The plane disappeared from the ship’s radar screens during a routine flight, the Navy spokesman said.” (Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. “Syracusan Among Crash Dead Recovered.” 4-6-1982, B-1.)
Sources
Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. “Syracusan Among Crash Dead Recovered.” 4-6-1982, B-1. Accessed 12-5-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-post-standard-apr-06-1982-p-9/
United States Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command (Mark L. Evans). Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69). 9-14-2016. Accessed 12-5-2018 at: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/dwight-d-eisenhower-cvn-69.html