Narrative:At 8:15 PM on Monday, June 27, 1960, crew T-51 of the 380th Air Refueling Squadron departed Plattsburgh AFB aboard
Two KC-97G Stratotanker aircraft departed Plattsburgh AFB, NY (PBG) at 20:15 for the "Fighting Fox" air refueling area over Maine. Their mission was part of a SAC Operational Readiness Inspection of the 380th Bombardment Wing. They were to refuel a Boeing B-47 Stratojet under simulated combat conditions. The mission was expected to last just under four hours, with both tankers returning to Plattsburgh.
Stratotanker 52-2738 was about to connect with the B-47 at 15,500 feet when suddenly a fire erupted in the Stratotanker's no. 1 engine. The airplane turned left until it entered a spin. The left wing outboard of the burning engine failed due to fire damage and the airplane crashed out of control into Jonathan Smith Mountain.
Classification:
Engine fire
Wing failure
Loss of control
Sources:
»
Remembering the crew of 52-2728 / Peter Noddin (Dirago Flyer, October 2001)» www.mewreckchasers.com
Photos
Map
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.