9 fatalities

Aircraft crash near Los Alamitos AAF

Los Alamitos AAF, United States of AmericaTakeoff (climb)

On September 12, 1962, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Los Alamitos AAF, United States of America during takeoff. 9 people were killed. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A military aircraft crashed in a residential area of Seal Beach shortly after departing from Los Alamitos Army Airfield.

What happened

During the initial climb phase following departure from runway 22 at Los Alamitos AAF, the aircraft experienced a loss of control. The flight path deviated significantly from the intended route, leading to an impact within the suburb of Seal Beach. The crash site was located approximately 3.5 miles southwest of the airfield.

All nine crew members on board the aircraft perished in the accident. There were no reported injuries or fatalities among the residents or individuals on the ground at the time of the impact.

Findings

Information regarding the specific mechanical or operational reasons for the loss of control was not provided in the initial report.