What happened
On the afternoon of March 13, 1987, a KC-135A-BN Stratotanker and a B-52 Stratofortress departed from Fairchild Air Force Base to perform practice maneuvers for an upcoming air show. During the flight, the KC-135A-BN, registration 60-0361, was performing a steep left-hand turn shortly after takeoff when the aircraft experienced an abrupt roll. The bank angle increased from approximately 45 degrees to nearly 90 degrees, which caused the two engines on the left wing to stall.
Although the crew attempted to level the plane, the low altitude and airspeed prevented a successful recovery. The aircraft struck the ground in an open area north of the flightline, passing behind several hangars. The impact caused the aircraft to break apart, with the tail, wings, engines, and wheels separating from the fuselage. The wreckage traveled through a security fence and an access road before striking a weather radar tower and erupting into flames. The accident resulted in 8 fatalities, including all six crew members on board the aircraft and one individual on the ground who was watching from a vehicle.
Findings
Investigation into the accident determined that the primary cause of the loss of control was wake turbulence encountered during the maneuver.