No fatalities

1987-02-13: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (60-0330) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Altus AFB, United States of America

Altus AFB, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On February 13, 1987, a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (registration 60-0330) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Altus AFB, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: UHF cables near the aft wing root in the fuselage melted due to an electrical fault, and fuel vapors in the area of the aft body tank ignited. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781216662Data APIEditorial standards

A training mission at Altus AFB ended with a cockpit fire after landing. The crew evacuated safely with no injuries, but the aircraft was destroyed. Investigation found an electrical fault in UHF cables ignited fuel vapors.

Incident Details

A crew was performing a local training mission at Altus Air Force Base. After landing, smoke began to spread in the cockpit and a fire erupted. The crew immediately stopped the aircraft on the runway and evacuated the cabin safely. There were no injuries reported, but the aircraft was totally destroyed by the fire.

Investigation and Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the cause of the fire. UHF cables running near the aft wing root in the fuselage melted due to an electrical fault. This occurred in an area where fuel vapors from the aft body tank were present, and those vapors ignited, leading to the fire that destroyed the aircraft.