Incident Overview
Date: Friday 19 December 1969
Aircraft Type: Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 56-3629
Location: off Taichung-Ching Chuan Kang Air Base (RMQ) –
ÿ Taiwan
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Accident
A four-aircraft refueling mission over the South China Sea experienced a catastrophic crash into the sea due to unusually low-level windshear. The pilots were unable to maintain altitude and were lost.A four-aircraft refueling mission over the South China Sea experienced a catastrophic crash into the sea due to unusually low-level windshear. The pilots were unable to maintain altitude and were lost.
Description
Crashed into the sea during climb out due to extremely low level windshear. The airplane was one of four departing on a refuelling mission over the South China Sea.
Primary Cause
Extremely low-level windshear conditions significantly reduced lift and increased drag, leading to loss of control and subsequent impact with the water.Extremely low-level windshear conditions significantly reduced lift and increased drag, leading to loss of control and subsequent impact with the water.Share on:
