Overview
A United States Air Force KC-135A aircraft and a civilian Grumman American Yankee (AA-1) collided in midair approximately five miles south of Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona. The collision resulted in the destruction of both aircraft and fatalities for all six occupants: the four crew members of the KC-135A and the two civilians in the AA-1.
Flight of the KC-135A
The KC-135A departed Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport at 0755 Mountain Standard Time for a scheduled 3-hour and 30-minute flight. After completing the navigation leg, the aircraft descended into the Phoenix area for transition at Luke AFB. It completed one TACAN approach at Luke AFB, then was vectored to Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport for an ILS touch-and-go landing. Subsequently, the aircraft was vectored back to the final approach course for a TACAN Runway 03 Left approach at Luke AFB. The KC-135A was cleared for the approach, and after the final approach fix radio call, the midair collision occurred.
The Civilian Aircraft
The Grumman American Yankee had departed Sky Harbor Airport and been released by the Phoenix Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA). It was heading westerly in airspace designated as a special traffic area, where it was required to be at or below 2,000 feet mean sea level (MSL).
The Collision
A pilot of another aircraft trailing the AA-1 reported encountering a low broken cloud cover. This pilot descended to about 2,000 feet MSL to remain 500 feet below the cloud bases. He stated that the pilot of the AA-1 did not descend but appeared to be skimming along in and out of the cloud bases. He then noticed the KC-135 descending through the cloud deck, followed immediately by the collision. The collision occurred at an altitude of 2,500 feet MSL. The empennage of the KC-135 separated, rendering the aircraft incapable of flight, and it was destroyed upon ground impact. The Grumman American Yankee was destroyed during the midair collision.
Aftermath
All four crew members of the KC-135A—Lieutenant Colonel James N. Floor, Lieutenant Colonel Ted L. Beam, Major Truman R. Young Jr., and Technical Sergeant Donald J. Plough—and the two civilians in the AA-1 were fatalities. The logbook of the AA-1 pilot indicated this was his first trip to the Phoenix area.
Official Findings
The investigation identified three findings. En route charts were inadequate. The pilot in command of the AA-1 conducted improper VFR procedures. Additionally, the pilot in command of the AA-1 lacked familiarity with the geographic area. The collision occurred during the KC-135A's TACAN 03L approach to Luke AFB, while the AA-1 was operating in special traffic area airspace.