Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 13 June 1971
Aircraft Type: Boeing C-135B Stratolifter
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 61-0331
Location: 113 km off Hawaii, USA –
ÿ Pacific Ocean
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 24 / Occupants: 24
Component Affected: C-135B aircraftC-135B aircraft
Category: Accident
A Boeing C-135B aircraft, serial 61-0331, crashed in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, resulting in the deaths of all 24 crew members. The aircraft was operating a flight from Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) to Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI (HIK), operated by USAF 4950th Test Wing. The C-135 was observing the French Encelade atmospheric nuclear test at Mururoa.A Boeing C-135B aircraft, serial 61-0331, crashed in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii, resulting in the deaths of all 24 crew members. The aircraft was operating a flight from Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) to Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI (HIK), operated by USAF 4950th Test Wing. The C-135 was observing the French Encelade atmospheric nuclear test at Mururoa.
Description
A Boeing C-135B plane, serial 61-0331, was destroyed in an accident in the Pacific Ocean, 113 km off Hawaii, USA. All 24 crew members were killed. The airplane operated on a flight from Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) to Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI (HIK). The C-135 was operated by USAF 4950th Test Wing for the Space and Missile System Office (SAMSO). It had been observing the French Encelade atmospheric nuclear test at Mururoa.
Source of Information
http://web.archive.org/web/20160410001300/https://www.ariamemorial.com/index.htmlhttp://web.archive.org/web/20160410001300/https://www.ariamemorial.com/index.htmlPrimary Cause
Unknown ? Possible mechanical failure or pilot error.Unknown ? Possible mechanical failure or pilot error.Share on:
