Incident Overview
On an unspecified date, a military aircraft was participating in a training exercise originating from Evreux Airbase, accompanied by five other similar aircraft. While cruising under poor weather conditions, the airplane experienced a loss of control and subsequently crashed in the Ecouves forest, approximately 11 kilometers north of Alençon. The impact destroyed the aircraft and resulted in the deaths of all 15 individuals on board.
Crew and Passengers
The fifteen occupants were all members of the crew. They were identified as:
- Maj William J. Wilson
- Cpt Edward J. Vianco
- Cpt Vincent Stantucci
- 1st Lt James S. Douglass
- 1st Lt Stanley C. Hardin
- S/Sgt Alfred J. Knight
- T/Sgt Robert L. Conway
- T/Sgt Harold E. Kazee
- A1c Cecil Williams
- A1c Huey Green
- A1c Theodore Shedelbower
- A2c Stanley E. Royster
- A3c Gayle J. O'Grady
- Sp4 James Waples
- Sp4 Lee Taylor
Circumstances
The aircraft was among a group of six conducting training operations from Evreux Airbase. The flight encountered poor weather conditions during cruising. Under these conditions, the crew lost control of the aircraft, which then descended and crashed in a wooded area. The wreckage was located in the Ecouves forest, north of Alençon. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
Notes
The official investigation did not specify a probable cause for the loss of control. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or other conditions were provided in the source.