Message posted by Peter Merlin on February 01, 2012 at 20:51:40 PST:
There have been a number of crashes related to Groom Lake. Some airplanes crashed within the boundaries of the Nevada Test and Training Range, while others were lost off-range during test or support missions. 17 November 1955, C-54M (44-9068). While ferrying personnel to Watertown to support Project AQUATONE (the Lockheed U-2), a transport crashed near the top of Mt. Charleston, about 20 miles west of Las Vegas. The victims included 1Lt. George M. Pappas, 2Lt. Paul E. Winham, SSgt. John H. Gaines, SSgt. Clayton D. Farris, A2C Guy R. Fafolas, James F. Bray, Edwin J. Urolatis, Terrance J. O’Donnell, James W. Brown, William H. Marr Jr., Rodney H. Kreimendahl, Harold C. Silent, Richard J. Hruda, and Frederick F. Hanks. 15 May 1956, U-2A (56-6678/Article 345). When CIA pilot Wilburn S. “Billy” Rose took off for a training flight, one of the wing pogo wheels failed to separate. Rose flew low over Groom Lake, trying to shake it loose. The aircraft, heavy with fuel, stalled and crashed, killing the pilot. 31 August 1956, U-2A (56-687/Article 354). During a night training flight at Watertown, CIA pilot Frank G. Grace Jr. became disoriented by lights near the end of the runway. The U-2 struck a telephone pole, destroying the aircraft and killing the pilot. 19 December 1956, U-2A (56-6690/Article 357). During a training flight over Arizona, CIA pilot Robert Ericson suffered an oxygen failure at 35,000 feet. As he began to pass out, the aircraft went out of control. Ericson managed to open the canopy and parachuted to a safe landing on the Navajo Indian Reservation. 4 April 1957, U-2A (Article 341). The U-2 prototype suffered a flameout at 72,000 feet. Lockheed test pilot Robert Sieker’s pressure suit inflated but his helmet faceplate clasp failed and he lost consciousness. The aircraft stalled at 65,000 feet and entered a flat spin, crashing near Sunnyside, Nevada. Sieker bailed out just before impact, and was killed. 24 May 1963, A-12 (60-6926/Article 123). Ice in the pitot tube caused erroneous airspeed readings leading to stall, pitch up, and inverted flat spin. CIA pilot Ken Collins ejected safely, and the A-12 crashed 14 miles south of Wendover, Nevada. 9 July 1964, A-12 (60-6939/Article 133). While on final approach for Runway 32, the controls locked up and the aircraft began to roll. Lockheed test pilot William Park ejected just 200 feet above the ground. The jet impacted about 1.5 miles south of Groom Lake. 28 December 1965, A-12 (60-6929/Article 126). CIA pilot Mele Vojvodich crashed on takeoff from Area 51 because the controls had accidentally been cross-wired during modifications. Six seconds after takeoff, Vojvodich ejected about 100 feet above the ground. The jet impacted off the end of the runway and disintegrated as it slid about a mile across the frozen lakebed. 30 July 1966, M-21 (60-6941/Article 135). Lost due to midair collision during launch of D-21 drone. As the D-21 separated from the launch pylon, it struck the tail of the M-21. Both vehicles were destroyed. Pilot William Park ejected safely and was rescued 150 miles west of Point Mugu, California. Launch Systems Officer Ray Torick ejected, but drowned before he could be rescued. 5 January 1967, A-12 (60-6928/Article 125). Due to a faulty fuel indicator, the jet ran out of fuel about 70 miles east of Groom Lake. CIA pilot Walter Ray ejected but failed to separate from his seat and was killed. The jet continued to descend in a deep stall, impacting in the Meadow Valley Mountains near Leith, Nevada. 26 September 1967, F-101B (56-0286). Lt. Col. James S. Simon Jr. crashed while flying chase for the A-12T (60-6927) during a night training flight. The aircraft impacted 4,000 feet short and 2,000 feet east of Runway 32 and slid for about 3,000 feet. Simon was killed. 26 March 1969, F-4J (157782). Crashed due to loss of control during air combat maneuvers with MiG-17F/YF-113A (055). Lt. Ronald "Mugs" McKeown and his radar intercept officer Lt. Peter G. Gilleece ejected. 1970, AQUILINE. Unmanned drone crashed on a hill near Caliente, Nevada. 4 May 1978, HAVE BLUE (1001). A sudden drop during landing caused a low-observable (“stealth”) technology demonstrator to slam down hard on the right side. Fearing he would slide off the runway, Lockheed test pilot William Park applied full power and aborted the landing. All attempts to lower the gear failed, and fuel levels were becoming critical. As Park climbed to 10,000 feet, one engine flamed out. Park ejected and survived with injuries. The jet crashed on the east side of Groom Lake. 11 July 1979, HAVE BLUE (1002). During a test flight, Lt. Col. Norman K. Dyson noticed two hydraulic-system warning lights. He soon discovered that one of the engines was on fire. Dyson ejected safely, and the jet crashed about 35 miles NE of Groom Lake. 11 March 1981, MiG-17PF/YF-114D (008). Destroyed in landing mishap due to hydraulic accumulator blowout. Lt. Col. George K. Muellner was unharmed. 20 April 1982, F-117A (80-10785). The first production F-117A taxied out for its first flight with Robert Riedenauer at the controls. The previous night, technicians had relocated a servomechanism from one equipment bay to another and rewired it. Unfortunately, they accidentally reversed the pitch and yaw controls. As the jet lifted off, it flipped over backwards and crashed on the main runway. Unable to free himself, Riedenauer had to be cut free by the rescue crew. He survived with injuries. 26 April 1984, MiG-23MS/YF-113E. Lt. Gen Robert M. Bond climbed to 40,000 feet and accelerated to Mach 2 speeds. He lost control, ejected at high speed, and was killed. The aircraft crashed in Area 25 of the Nevada Test Site. 16 march 2004, B-1900C (N27RA). Commuter flight crashed 7 miles southeast of the Tonopah Test Range while en route from Groom Lake when Air Force civilian pilot David D. Palay suffered a fatal heart attack during approach. JT3 LLC contractors Derrick L. Butler, Michael A. Izold, Daniel M. Smalley, and Roy A. Van Voorhis also died in the crash.
In Reply to: Re: Groom Lake plane crashes posted by T.D. Barnes on February 01, 2012 at 15:53:48 PST:
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