Overview
A crew from the 816th Air Division was conducting a local night training mission at Altus Air Force Base (AFB). The accident occurred after several circuits, during an overshoot procedure following a Ground Controlled Approach (GCA) approach.
Mission and Events
The crew had been flying circuits and then initiated a new GCA approach. The pilot-in-command requested a climb to altitude to perform another jet penetration. During the overshoot, the aircraft encountered difficulties with the stabilizer trim.
Accident Details
The stabilizer trim problems caused the aircraft to lose altitude and crash approximately 4 miles north of the airfield. One crew member successfully bailed out and was rescued. The other eight occupants were killed.
Crew
The crew members were:
- Maj Byard F. Baker, pilot
- Cpt Melvin Eckstein
- Maj Willis E. Brady
- 1st Lt Carl D. Mackall
- 1st Lt Doyle Alexander Salley
- S/Sgt. Thomas Lowry
- S/Sgt Clarence R. Leger
- T/Sgt Norman L. Kohlmeyer
- S/Sgt Harold J. Funnell
All but Maj Baker and Cpt Eckstein were listed as fatalities in the source.