Incident
A Navy aircraft departed Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada, on a flight to Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii, with an intermediate stop at North Island-Halsey Field Naval Air Station in San Diego. Minutes after takeoff, the airplane entered a thunderstorm area and encountered heavy turbulence. The pilot lost control, and the aircraft entered a dive. It partially disintegrated in the air before crashing in a desert area approximately 10 miles northwest of Searchlight, Nevada. The aircraft was totally destroyed, with debris scattered over more than half a mile. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew
The crew were members of Patrol Squadron 17 (VP-17): Lt Timothy D. Bailing, Lt Norman L. Johnson, Ltjg Henry J. McGreevey, Adj1 Ambrose Ordonia, Adj1 Johnny D. Shelton, Atn3 Cletus L. Morrison, Aw3 John D. Maas, Aw3 John W. Schmitz, Aw3 Michael A. Silvers, and Aw3 Bruce E. Weaver.
Probable Cause
The Navy concluded that the aircraft was struck by lightning. However, Lockheed determined that the breakup of the aircraft in flight was caused by structural overloading of the right wing from a positive high angle of attack condition. Lockheed concluded that it was the uncontrollable flight and the resultant stresses that caused the aircraft to disintegrate in flight.